This delicious quinoa tabbouleh salad has all the amazing authentic flavor of a classic tabbouleh recipe, without the bulgur wheat, making it gluten-free and kosher for Passover. Bright and refreshing, our quinoa tabouli recipe will make a welcome addition to your menu.

Overhead view of a blue flowery bowl with quinoa tabbouleh ( tabouli)

What is Tabbouleh?

Traditional tabbouleh is a refreshing Lebanese salad made with fresh parsley, tomatoes, scallions or onions, and bulgur wheat with a simple olive oil, lemon, and salt dressing. Make a traditional Tabouleh salad using our original recipe.

For this quinoa tabouli recipe, we decided to make a Passover-friendly twist on the classic favorite. While it is traditionally made with bulgur wheat, this quinoa version is gluten-free and packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. It's a light and nutritious side dish for any meal, during Passover and all year round!

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is a grain-like seed that is consired a superfood (pronouced KEEN-WAH). It's native to South America where has been part of their diet for centuries. It is a gluten-free grain and works well as an alternative to rice, couscous, or bulgur wheat in many recipes.

Ingredients for Quinoa Tabbouleh

Cooked Quinoa: Click here for instructions on how to cook quinoa. Make sure you let the quinoa cool before mixing the salad.
Chopped Parsley: Look for fresh, perky brighly colored green parsley. It should not be limp or wilted since it is the main flavor for this salad. Many recipes call for flat-leaf parsley, that's the one we prefer. If you don't have flat-leaf parsley handy you may use curly parsley, instead.
Grape Tomatoes or summer tomatoes: during the winter when tomatoes are not so flavorful we like to use grape or cherry tomatoes. When we can find them, we like to use multicolor tomatoes or an heirloom mix. In the summer make sure to use the juiciest and most flavorful tomatores you can find.
Scallions: Optional. Red onions will also work.
Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice. Bottled lemon juice it's just not the same its has lost a lot of it's beauty and won't add as much to the dish.

How to Make Quinoa Tabbouleh

Making our quinoa tabouli recipe is incredibly easy. Cook your quinoa and let it cool. Chop your parsley. Dice tomatoes and scallions. Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl. Dress with freshly squeeze lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and salt and if you are feeling fancy add a little sumac. Toss everything together. Refrigerate the tabbouleh and serve it chilled. Give it at least an hour to let the flavors meld. Fluff it with a fork before serving.

overhead view of a bowl of quinoa tabbouleh next to a cut lemon

Tips for Success

After washing your parsley, make sure to dry it in order remove excess moisture.
If you need to meal prep the day before, you can make this salad without tomatoes, dress it and add the tomatoes on the day of your meal.
Make sure the quinoa is completely cooled to room temperature before you mix the salad. If you can make it a day ahead of time and chill the quinoa in the refrigerator, that works even better.
Knife skills matter for this salad. Ideally, slice or dice the tomatoes the same size. This gives it a texture that is simply divine and allows for perfectly blended flavors.

What To Add

While we think our quinoa tabbouleh is perfect just as it is, you might want to add one of the following to make it a little out of the box.

feta cheese
lemon zest
garlic
other herbs such as basil, cilantro or fresh mint leaves
diced cucumber
red pepper flakes
black pepper
seeds such as hemp, pumpkin or sesame seeds
chickpeas (garbanzo beans), lentil or black beans
diced olives
minced red onion
diced red pepper

What to Serve with Quinoa Tabbouleh

This dish is beautiful served with falafel and a plate of hummus and pita bread. The acidic lemon of the tabouli balances out the richness of the other two dishes. It makes a fantastic summer salad and is comforting as a dip for falafel crackers or to complete a sabich sandwich . Tabbouleh makes a great addition to your mezze platter.

FAQ

How long does quinoa tabbouleh last in the fridge?

It will keep three days with the homemade dressing already mixed in. If you haven't added dressing yet it will keep for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze quinoa tabouli?

We do not recomment freezing tabouli, it's better enjoyed fresh. You can, however, freeze cooked quinoa and have it ready to go when a salad is needed.

Curly parsley or Italian parsley: which to use in tabbouleh?

We prefer flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsleyt), but either will work. The flavors are the same but the texture may be a little bit different.

How do I store leftover tabbouleh?

In the refrigerator in an airtight container is best.

overhead closer view of a bowl of quinoa tabbouleh next to a cut lemon

More Great Quinoa Dishes to Enjoy