Tabouli

I bet that most people have a good sense of what goes into making an authentic tabouli and don't even know it. Tabouli is a Middle Eastern (Lebanese) dish and includes bulgar, parsley, mint, tomato, cucumber, scallion or green onion with lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil, and also sometimes cinnamon and allspice.

This salad is easy to make because the amounts of parsley, mint, tomato, cucumber and scallions you add are forgiving. Add more or less to suit your tastes or whatever you have on hand. It's a great one to make for lunches or as a side for dinner. Other favorite grain salads of mine are these ones: couscous tabouli salad and chickpea cucumber salad with mint.



Tabouli (serves 4-6)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups bulgar
2 cups boiling water
1 long English cucumber (diced)
1 cup tomatoes (diced)
3 tablespoons parsley
3 tablespoons mint
juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt, pepper
pinch of allspice (optional)

Directions
Pour boiling water over the bulgar, and let it stand for about 20 minutes, until the grain has absorbed the water and is tender and soft.

Meanwhile, mix together diced tomatoes and cucumbers and chopped parsley and mint.

Stir in prepared bulgar, and drizzle in olive oil. Add lemon juice, salt, pepper and a pinch of allspice and enjoy.