BY PATSY R. BRUMFIELD – THE SOUTHFACIN’ COOK 

TABBOULEH (pronounced “tuh-BOOL-ee”)

Who says New Orleanians don’t make tabbouleh? Can’t get much better on a Greek gyro, am I right?

This is a bit different from my usual Southern or “frenchified” offerings, but this past weekend I cut a whole lot of gorgeous, fragrant, flat-leaf parsley from my garden and knew I had to make tabbouleh.

Tabbouleh is great as a side dish or on romaine leaves with cucumber slices as a salad. It’s also outstanding with hummus and roasted chicken kebabs, on baked salmon or in wrap sandwiches. Use it to suit your tastes. It’s so fresh and wonderful.

EQUIPMENT

• cutting board
• chopping knife
• microplane
  

  how to make tabbouleh like a New Orleans native (photo by Patsy R. Brumfield/Southfacin’ Cook)

• 2 mixing bowls
• juicer (like a handheld reamer – not the electric kind)
• wooden spoon
• plastic wrap

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups bulgur wheat
• 4 cups parsley, finely minced (I just chop as much as I have energy)
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
• 4 green onions, finely sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 5 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

LET’S GET STARTED

To pre-soak the bulgur, place 2 cups of it in a bowl, pour 2 cups of hot water over and let stand 1 hour.

In another large bowl, use a wooden spoon and gently mix together all ingredients except the bulgur, tomatoes, olive oil and lemon juice. Using a microplane, scrape zest of 2 lemons into green mix.

Add the chopped tomatoes.

Pour mixture into the wheat bowl and gently combine, then add lemon juice.

Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Before serving, pour on olive oil and toss.

Taste. You may want more salt, cumin, lemon juice, pepper, etc. If you’ve run out of lemon juice and want more “zing,” use a couple of tablespoons of red wine vinegar.

Serves 6 to 8.

Come back to NewinNOLA.com every week for “Southfacin’ Cook,” where Patsy explains the basics to Southern cooking and eating. Contact her with suggestions, questions or requests at patsy.brumfield@gmail.com.

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