Portions: 6 servings Calories: 260kcal |
Looking for a grain-free, low-carb, gluten-free tabbouleh recipe? I have just what you crave: an easy no bulgur version of the Middle Eastern tabbouleh salad that will sate the cravings, and become a new favorite in your kitchen.
By - Last revised . Original May 6, 2021.
Why I ❤️ it Recipe Ingredients Video Preparation
Gluten free bulgur wheat salad.
Why I ❤️ it
Tabbouleh or tabouli is one of my favorite salads, with a lovely combination of flavor and texture, and a very "green", crisp taste. In this salad, instead of using bulgur wheat, I have opted to substitute it for nutrient and protein-rich shelled hemp seeds, which gives us a similar texture to traditional tabbouleh with bulgur.
This is the perfect recipe for summer, and a nutritious, flavorful dairy-free, gluten-free and low-carb dish that vegans and meat-eaters will like equally.
Gluten-free tabbouleh salad recipe
This free recipe contains Amazon affiliate links, and I receive a small commission when you purchase, at no cost to you. Thank you!
Utensils and tools
Ingredients
- 1 cup shelled hemp seeds
- 1 cup diced tomato or quartered cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium red onion, diced into small cubes
- 1 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
- A dozen fresh mint leaves, minced (optional)
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime or 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoons sea salt, (or more, to taste)
- 1 small cucumber, minced
Video
Preparation
Before you start, make sure you have all the ingredients and utensils ready.
Step 1: Combining
Mix the hemp seeds with the tomatoes, onion, parsley, mint, oil, and lime juice. Season with salt to taste.
Step 2: Chilling
Cover and refrigerate until it's time to serve, but not more than an hour or the herbs will start to wilt.
Step 3: Serving
Mix in the cucumber, and serve right away.
Top tips
- If you don't have flat-leaf parsley, you can use chopped curly parsley (stems removed) instead.
- If you wish, you can add a bit of black pepper to taste, though I prefer not to.
Serving suggestions
This is the perfect salad for summer cookouts and potlucks, but also for Middle-Eastern-inspired meals. You can pair it with sabich, a lovely roasted eggplant and pita sandwich, shakshuka eggs in tomato sauce, mejadra rice with lentils. I also love this couscous tabbouleh with sun-dry tomatoes, or this succulent lamb over rice. We also have a lovely recipe for skhuk, a Middle Eastern hot sauce.
If you want to check different bulgur wheat tabouli, then check out the Dominican tipili version.
Variations
There are many substitutions possible, and just as many recipes possible. Some people use riced cauliflower, some use quinoa. My preferred bulgur substitute is shelled hemp seeds.
Hulled hemp seeds --also known as hemp hearts-- are a very nutritious food, easy to find and work with, and --in my opinion-- yield a consistency closer to real tabbouleh than other bulgur wheat substitutes.
If you have never tried cucumber in your tabbouleh, I hadn't either. I once came across a recipe that called for cucumber, and I decided to try it, with fantastic results. I also realized that this is a not uncommon version of tabbouleh in the Middle East.
Nutritional information
Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 231mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1115IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 6mg
More salad recipes
FAQs
Is bulgur wheat gluten-free?
Bulgur is not gluten-free. You can find a gluten-free bulgur wheat substitute used in this recipe to make it gluten-free.
Is tabbouleh / tabouli gluten free?
Traditional tabbouleh is made from bulgur, a wheat product, as such it isn't gluten-free.
What are good gluten-free substitutes for bulgur wheat?
The best gluten-free substitute for bulgur will depend on the type of recipe. In some recipes quinoa or hemp seeds can be used. Couscous, a common substitute bulgur wheat in some recipes, it's not gluten-free.
Is couscous low carb/gluten-free?
Some non-traditional tabboulehs are made with couscous, which is also not gluten-free, or low-carb.
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Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Tabbouleh |Recipe + Video|
Ingredients
- 1 cup shelled hemp seeds [Amazon affiliate link]
- 1 cup diced tomato
- 1 medium red onion diced into small cubes
- 1 cup minced parsley
- 1 sprig of mint minced (optional)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime or lemon
- 1 teaspoons salt (or more, to taste)
- 1 small cucumber minced
Instructions
Combine
- Mix the hemp seeds with the tomatoes, onion, parsley, mint, oil, and lime juice.Season with salt to taste.
Chill
- Cover and refrigerate until it's time to serve, but not more than an hour or the herbs will start to wilt.
Serve
- Mix in the cucumber, and serve right away.
Nutrition
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By , published May 6, 2021 on Tia Clara
I’m looking forward to making this. I usually make my gluten-free tibili (the way my family said it) with quinoa, but this may be a tasty alternative!
I am sure the quinoa one is great, but to be honest, I prefer this one. Try it and see, and maybe you'll like both. 🙂
I do! I’ve made it several times already! ❤️
I am glad to hear you liked it, thanks for trying my recipe!