Tabbouleh with Cauliflower, Carrots, and Beets Recipe

34 Recipes that Celebrate Fall Vegetables

Tabbouleh is a Lebanese dish that's traditionally made with lots of chopped parsley and mint, bulgur wheat, and often, ripe tomatoes. It's simple to make and one of my summer favorites.

As we head into colder months, I wanted to translate this summer classic into a side dish for fall meals, featuring cauliflower, carrots, and golden beets. The salad is herby and bright, and it's a great way to eat fresh foods, even in the fall and winter.

Autumn Tabbouleh with Cauliflower, Carrots, and Golden Beets — Elizabeth Stark

To make this salad, I thinly shave cauliflower, then mix in with julienned carrots and golden beets. Tossing these vegetables with lemon juice and salt works like a simple marinade, rendering the vegetables supple with just a bit of crunch.

The vegetables get tossed with the more traditional tabbouleh ingredients - tender bulgur, lots of parsley, scallions, and olive oil, plus a splash of sherry vinegar.

By the way, sherry vinegar is my kitchen secret that makes everything from salads to soups sing. Try it!

I like to prep my vegetables on a mandolin using the regular blade and the julienne setting to make super thin and uniform pieces. If you prefer, the vegetables can be grated instead.

How to Julienne Carrots

Autumn Tabbouleh With Cauliflower, Carrots, and Golden Beets

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Resting time 30 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Servings 4 to 6 servings

This salad is best if you can give it a full 30 minutes to rest before serving. It can also be made up to 3 days ahead and kept refrigerated.

To make this dish gluten-free, substitute quinoa for the bulgur. (Follow package directions to cook the quinoa.)

1 cup bulgur wheat
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 head medium cauliflower
2 medium carrots, peeled and trimmed
2 small golden beets, peeled and trimmed
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups parsley, minced
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and minced
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
Ground black pepper or to taste

1 mandoline

Make the bulgur:

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. When the water boils, stir in the bulgur and salt. Cover the pan and remove from heat. Let the bulgur sit for 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Strain bulgur with a mesh strainer, shaking to remove as much water as possible.
Prep the vegetables:

Break the cauliflower into large florets and carefully slice them 1/16-inch thick on a mandolin. Next, switch to a julienne blade and julienne 1/8-inch thick to julienne carrots and beets. (The vegetables can be shredded on a box grater or in a food processor, instead.)

Elizabeth Stark

Elizabeth Stark
Marinate the vegetables:

Combine the vegetables in a large serving bowl and toss with salt and lemon juice. Set aside 20 minutes to marinate, until crisp-tender.

Elizabeth Stark
Finish the salad:

To the bowl with the vegetables, add the olive oil, cooked bulgur, parsley, scallions, and sherry vinegar. Stir to combine. Taste and add salt, lemon juice, or olive oil as needed.
Let stand 30 minutes before serving:

Cover and let mixture marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving to give the flavors time to combine. (If marinating longer, set in the fridge.)

Salad will keep well covered in the fridge for 3 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
137	Calories
9g	Fat
12g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	137
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 1g	7%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 360mg	16%
Total Carbohydrate 12g	5%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 40mg	202%
Calcium 49mg	4%
Iron 2mg	11%
Potassium 294mg	6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.