Cauliflower tabbouleh salad is a delicious and easy grain free, low-carb side dish. It only takes 15 minutes to make and is packed with fresh vegetables and herbs.
I adore Middle Eastern cuisine and had been craving tabbouleh for a while. In fact, most of the ingredients in the recipe are naturally grain-free and gluten-free - with the exception of the bulgur wheat.
The perfect replacement for bulgur? Cauliflower, of course! It has a similar texture and is grain free and low in carbs at the same time.
I always know that a recipe is a success when my children ask for seconds - which they did. They are very critical when it comes to healthy versions of classic dishes! When I get their teenage approval, I know that you, my dear reader, will like it, too.
Jump to:
What Is Tabbouleh?
Tabbouleh - also spelt tabouli or tabbouli - is a classic Middle Eastern salad. It is made with finely chopped parsley, mint, tomatoes and soaked, uncooked bulgur. It has a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.
Traditionally, it is served as part of a mezze - a Levantine sharing platter that includes dishes such as hummus or baba ghanoush. Which is about as delicious as food can get. However, it is also a great side for grilled meat and fish
Why This Recipe Works
It is delicious. My cauliflower tabbouleh salad is fragrant, fresh and zesty, just like the original. The cauliflower has a similar bite to bulgur. I think it actually improves the flavor!
It is healthy. With all the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and the heart-healthy fats of the olive oil, this salad is undeniably good for you. On top of that, this easy vegetarian and vegan recipe is gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and Whole30-friendly.
Ingredients
Let's talk about the ingredients!
- Cauliflower - I use a head of cauliflower and grind it to a very fine consistency. You can also use fresh cauliflower rice from the supermarket. I still recommend that you pulse this in a food processor to make it finer.
- Parsley - This is the real star of the recipe. Both curly or flat-leaf parsley work. It must be chopped very finely.
- Cucumber - This is not a traditional ingredient, but I love the juiciness it adds. It also bulks up the salad. Be sure to scoop out the seeds, they add too much water.
- Cherry tomatoes - I halve these and squeeze out the seeds.
- Red onion - chop it very finely. You can also use scallions or green onions.
For the dressing, we're keeping it equally simple: Extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, fresh garlic, sea salt and pepper. In my opinion, good quality olive oil is important for the recipe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Instructions
It is surprisingly simple to make a tabouli with cauliflower rice. Here are the basic steps. Scroll down to the recipe for the detailed method.
Step 1
Put the cauliflower florets in a food processor and pulse them to a fine rice consistency. Or, use a box grater.
You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your blender.
Step 2
Make the dressing. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, finely chopped garlic, a pinch of salt and black pepper in a small bowl.
Step 3
Add a little dressing to a non-stick frying pan. Sautรฉ the cauliflower rice on medium heat until tender. Frying it like this gives the cauliflower a gently nutty flavor, which is just delicious.
Allow to fully cool.
Step 4
Slice the cucumber in half. Scoop out the seeds and dice. Halve the tomatoes and squeeze out the seeds. Chop the herbs and the red onion.
Step 5
Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Toss to combine with the dressing and season to taste.
Expert Tip
Let the salad sit in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before serving. This way, the flavors have time to meld and the salad will be even tastier.
Variations
It is easy to vary the recipe to suit your personal preferences. You could add finely chopped red or green bell peppers to the mix or leave out the onion, if you prefer.
A pinch of paprika or sweet pepper also enhances the flavor.
One addition that we all enjoy is adding 3 heaped tablespoons of hemp hearts. These have a similar taste and size to bulgur and add a little more crunch - and they also add more fibre!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use the cauliflower rice raw as opposed to cooked cauliflower. However, sautรฉing it first takes away any sharp taste. Also, cauliflower is much easier to digest when it is lightly cooked. If you keep it raw, you may find that you'll feel bloated after eating it. In my opinion, cooking it first makes the salad taste miles better.
Yes! You can microwave the cauliflower rice for about 6 minutes instead of sautรฉing it. Then, stir it through the dressing while it is still hot. It won't have the nutty taste you get from frying though.
I don't recommend it. Frozen cauliflower rice contains too much liquid and will make the salad mushy.
Serving Suggestion
Cauliflower tabbouleh is a great side for all grilled meat or fish. I love it with keto lemon chicken. We have also enjoyed it with lamb cutlets and with sea bass.
Or, serve it as part of a mezze with keto pita bread, keto hummus and keto falafel (image above).
It works with all Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Plus, it's a great side to bring to a summer barbecue!
Storage And Meal Prep
Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Dressing on the side: If you know you won't eat all of the tabouli at once, only add the dressing to the portion you are eating. That way, the vegetables stay crunchier for longer.
The salad is not suitable for freezing.
Related Recipes
Here are more easy cauliflower recipes to try:
- Cauliflower Tortillas30 Minutes
- Keto Sushi Rolls (Cauliflower Rice)40 Minutes
- Keto Risotto21 Minutes
- Keto Paella With Cauliflower Rice20 Minutes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
โ STAY IN TOUCH on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more great food and join my NEWSLETTER for the latest updates and a FREE EBOOK.โ
Recipe
Cauliflower Tabbouleh
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 10 oz / 280g cauliflower florets 1 medium cauliflower head
- 1 ยฝ cup / 160g large cucumber chopped
- 1 cup / 150g cherry tomatoes quartered or equivalent weight in medium vine tomatoes, diced
- โ cup / 20g parsley finely chopped
- ยผ cup / 10g fresh mint finely chopped
- 2 tbsp / 20g red onion finely diced
Dressing
- โ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 - 2 tablespoon lemon juice to taste
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ยฝ - 1 teaspoon flaked sea salt, to taste
- โ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower rice by placing the florets in a food processor and blitzing until it resembles a rice consistency.
- Make the dressing by mixing the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of dressing to a non-stick frying pan. Sautรฉ the cauliflower rice for about 5 - 6 minutes on a medium heat until tender. Allow to fully cool.
- Meanwhile, slice the cucumber in half and remove the seeds using a teaspoon. Dice.
- Add the tomato and cucumber to a mixing bowl. I chose not to take all the tomato seeds as this can make the cauliflower tabbouleh too wet.
- Add cooled cauliflower, parsley, mint and dressing to the bowl. Toss to combine, season to taste and serve.
Elina
Really tasty recipe!! Thank you โค๏ธ
Elaine
Made this for the first time tonight. Husband went back for seconds. No need to say more
Kathy Irizarry
Being a Greek, I'd say: Don't forget the FETA.
Katrin Nรผrnberger
Feta cheese would be a lovely addition!
Liz
What hemp hearts do you use please????
Katrin Nรผrnberger
I always buy a brand called Good Hemp. Linwoods and Green Origins also have hemp seeds.
Gillian Worthington
Iโve made this so many times now and itโs been perfect every time. Itโs absolutely delicious. If youโve not already tried this please give it a go you wonโt regret it at all.
Jo
Who needs grains when you have this?! I'm making this again this week. So tasty.