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Cauliflower Tabbouleh is a refreshing summer salad featuring fresh herbs and a bright lemon dressing. It’s a delicious alternative to the traditional version!
Featuring cauliflower rice instead of bulgur wheat, this tabbouleh recipe is a fun twist on this popular Middle Eastern salad. It’s gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, and loaded with nutrients!
It’s the perfect dish when you’re serving hummus and falafel, but can also act as the base for your favorite protein, too.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Just like traditional tabbouleh, you’ll need flat-leaf parsley, mint, tomatoes, garlic, cucumber, and green onions. Tossed with a simple combination of olive oil and lemon juice, this cauliflower tabbouleh salad is perfect for a summer meal.
If you have other veggies on hand, you could easily swap red onion for green ones, or use grape tomatoes for a slightly sweeter flavor. It’s easy to taste and customize as you go!
The traditional salad typically uses a higher ratio of parsley, so feel free to add even more if you love it. This recipe is dairy-free and vegan as written, but you can also add any extras you love, like a sprinkle of feta cheese on top.
How to Make Cauliflower Tabbouleh
To prepare the cauliflower rice, add the chopped cauliflower florets to a 12-cup food processor fitted with an S blade.
Secure the lid and pulse the machine several times, until the cauliflower has a crumbly texture.
In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, fresh lemon juice (and the lemon zest, if you like), garlic, salt, and black pepper.
Add in the pulsed cauliflower, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, green onion, parsley, and minced mint leaves. Stir well so everything is well coated, then adjust the seasoning to taste.
You can serve this salad right away or let it marinate in the fridge before serving. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Detoxinista Tip
This is not the best option to pack for lunch if you plan on eating at your desk in a shared office space. Your co-workers may not appreciate the pungent smell of raw cauliflower and garlic!
Frequently Asked Questions
What else can I substitute for bulgur wheat in tabbouleh?
Other than using cauliflower rice, quinoa tabbouleh is another gluten-free option.
Can I use cooked cauliflower instead?
Sure, feel free to roast or steam the cauliflower first. Check out my Greek Cauliflower Salad for a cooked option.
Looking for more cauliflower recipes? Try my famous Cauliflower Pizza, dairy-free Cauliflower Soup, or Buffalo Cauliflower Wings for more delicious ideas.
Cauliflower Tabbouleh
Cauliflower Tabbouleh is a gluten-free twist on the traditional Middle Easter salad! Made with cauliflower rice, this version requires no cooking for a light and refreshing dish.
prep20 mins cook0 mins total20 mins
Servings:4
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Ingredients
- 1 pound cauliflower florets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt , plus more to taste
- 1 cucumber , chopped
- 1 large tomato , chopped (see notes)
- 3 green onions , chopped
- 1 cup fresh parsley , finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint , chopped
Instructions
Add the cauliflower to a food processor fitted with an "S" blade. Secure the lid and process briefly, just until the cauliflower looks crumbly and resembles rice. Set it aside.
In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Then pour in the riced cauliflower, cucumber, tomato, green onion, parsley, and fresh mint. Stir well so everything is well coated in the dressing.
Taste the mixture and season with additional salt or lemon juice, as needed. (I usually add another ½ teaspoon of salt, but this will vary depending on the size of your veggies.)
Serve this salad right away, or let it marinate in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep well for up to 5 days in the fridge and pairs perfectly with hummus, falafel, and more.
Notes
Nutrition information is for roughly 1 1/2 cups of salad, assuming you get 6 cups total from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Tomato Note: When slicing tomatoes aren’t in season, use 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, instead.
Packed Lunch Note: Cauliflower can become quite smelly when you store it in the fridge, so this recipe may not be the best option to pack for lunch if you eat around co-workers.
Nutrition
Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 688mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1907IU | Vitamin C: 90mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
Author: Megan Gilmore
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: cauliflower tabbouleh
If you try this Cauliflower tabbouleh recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
Megan Gilmore
Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.
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