Tabbouleh

[ktlou]

Can anyone tell me what Tabbouleh (spelling?) is? I've eaten it before and really like it, but I have no idea what it actually is! Also can you make it yourself (or buy it ready to eat)? Any help would be much appreciated!

[nickmo]

Tabbouleh is fine grained cracked wheat or bulgar wheat salad. Soak and fluff it up and serve as a base for salads with a mid east slant - mint, cucumber, fresh veg etc. Use like couscous.

45 ways here: http://www.astray.com/recipes/?search=tabbouleh

[dogfish]

Tesco sell it in a little tub. Very nice.

[ktlou]

Cheers guys thats fab! dogfish, is this a ready made tub of it or is it plain that you can add to? I would like to try my own recipes (great suggestions thanks nickmo) and wondered if they do it in a packet like with cous cous?

[tingirl]

This is the best stuff in the world. You can buy it in health food shops - make sure you get 'cracked ' bulghur wheat.( It's alot lighter, the uncracked stuff is in big grains like barley.) 1. Put in big bowl with a little salt, add double amount of boiling water. let it soak for 15 mins. 2. Drain excess water 3.add finely chopped parsley, coriander, tomatoes, red onions, garlic (if you like) 4. Season with black pepper, a few dried red chilli seeds. Add fresh lime juice and extra virgin olive oil and mix in.

You can keep it in the fridge for about 2 days. You can also add other bits like olives or chopped cucumber or mint. Hope this helps! :)

[nickmo]

Hi ktlou - both are in the shops - cracked wheat needs cooking, bulgur wheat is pre-cooked and just needs finishing. (bulgar is one of the oldest recorded uses of wheat in history.The whole of the wheat is cooked and the bran is removed, the kernel than being 'cracked' to get the benefit of the germ). To finish you just soak the bulgar.

Cracked wheat is more often added to other grains to make a texture. If you want to use this for tabbouleh, make sure you use a fine grain cracked wheat - good health food shops may be the best bet to get this.

Made up, bulgar will keep for a few days in the fridge. Chop in some dried fruit - apricots, raisins, etc add some spices and herbs, season and keep in small tubs to have as a snack whenever you get a craving. Very high in nutition and easy to make enough to last a couple of days.

[ktlou]

Thank you all soooo much for your answers, i'm off to buy some so I can go and make it!!

[Dee Sa]

I really missed tabbouleh when I left Dubai, I have tried to make it from several different recipes but its always been a disaster. The Lebanese make it best, I have bought from Waitrose & Tesco but didnt like it, the best I have tasted came from Selfridges Food Hall, but if you are lucky enough to have a "Lebo" [Lebanese] restaurant near you take it from there.