Middle Eastern Tabbouleh

"I believe in Luck, Otherwise how do I account for my enemy's success?"

Many have deduced about my interest for cooking as Love! I seem to have had this penchant for cooking, which helps me to belt out dishes after dishes. "I am natural" - "They" say. I also seem to be doing it since I have "lots" of time in my hands and have nothing "better" to do.!!

I am spell bound again and again at the inane excuses people give for "others" doing something worthy. My so called "penchant" and "inner desire" is a laughing matter for my mom who simply cant get over this fact! Trust me- she knows! My mother like many others, made sure that I dint end up in my in-law's kitchen (or hubby's as a matter of fact) flabbergasted at the pots and pans and endless lentils/powders. She sure taught me ("forced me" is more like it) the basics and I was the "emergency go to" (not without a reason- of course!) option when she couldn't make for some reason. I was busy in my own world which had nothing to do with kitchen.

After marriage, Cooking (esp balanced meals) became a necessity. Few of my close friends do know the lifestyle I lead - and I dont surely enjoy "lots" of free time either. And I dont "Love" nor have the "penchant" for cooking either. To be precise I love to Cook for "my loved ones".Period. And there are few dishes out there which hardly need lots of expertise or culinary excellence and a requires only a little know of how to make a dish as flavorful, healthy and delicious as one which takes lots of time. One such dish is Tabbouleh



Tabouleh or Tabouli is a middle eastern dish whose central ingredient is Bulgur. Like any Indian, my hands always reach out for Cilantro/Coriander leaves and not parsley. But I was curious and the very first time I used Parsley was for this middle eastern favorite.

Types of Parsley

There are two types - flat leaf and curly. The taste doesnt vary much between them although flat variety is used most preferably in cooked dishes.

Availibility

They are available all year round and can also be grown at home very easily

Benefits

It was these benefits which made me incorporate Parsley in my diet. It is an excellent source of Vit A, C,K, iron and calcium. It is also known to be a rich source of Anti Oxidants! Not only that - it is also a wonderful source of Folic acid. I mean all this and I was under the impression that it was good only for some colorful garnish."More than what meets the eye" is so true when it comes to Parsley.

So if you havent introduced parsley yet to your taste buds then high time to start - How about starting it with this v healthy dish of Tabbouleh. ( The benefits of Bulgur in this dish is a topic for another blog post!)

Ingredients
1 cup Bulgur wheat
1 red bell pepper ( for the vitamin C )
1 red onion, chopped into small pieces
4-5 cherry tomatoes , sliced into quarters
2-3 tbsp of lemon juice ( as per taste)
2 tsp of Olive oil
few springs of Parsley and mint, chopped
1 cucumber ( go for seedless variety if available), chopped
1-2 tbsp Pisatchios ( or cashews - for the added crunch and benefits)

Method

1. Place the bulgur in a bowl and pour 1 cup of boiling water. Add the olive oil and stir and set iut aside for 30-45min till the water is absorbed.



2. Broil the bell pepper ( or grill it ). If broiling, remove the blackened skin and then chop them into small pieces.



3. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and give it a stir.



4.Then add the bulgur and toss well till incorporated



5. Serve with Pita bread or any bread of your choice. I had some grilled bread and it made a fulfilling and healthy lunch. Not much of a prep work required and it is as easy as it can get.



With such a dish - do you really think I need "lots" of time/"penchant"/"experience" for cooking? All it needs is the desire to make something healthy, a little curiosity about every morsel that goes into the mouth, a little interest and the need to do whatever we do "properly" and not because it is "expected" of us, or it is a "burden". I would request such ppl to stop making "excuses" for others when in fact it is more an excuse for "themselves"!

This post is on its way to Weekend Herb Blogging hosted by Katie.