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    Home » Salads and Dressings » Easy Tabouli Pasta Salad

    Easy Tabouli Pasta Salad

    Published: Mar 22, 2021 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Text and Image for Tabouli Pasta Salad
    image with text for easy Tabouli Pasta Salad
    Text and Image for easy Tabouli Pasta Salad

    All your favourite Middle Eastern tabouli flavours, now in an easy tabouli pasta salad! Combine fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and mint with pasta and toss it all with fresh lemon juice and olive oil. An easy and incredibly delicious twist on a traditional Lebanese tabouli salad.

    Overhead view of easy tabouli pasta salad in a blue bowl

    Traditional tabouli (or tabbouleh) is a Lebanese vegetarian salad made with bulgur wheat, lots of parsley, fresh mint and chopped tomatoes. It's a lettuce-free salad, with parsley as the main herb. It's often served with falafel or hummus.

    But you don't have to make it with bulgar wheat!

    For those who can't tolerate gluten, there are alternatives! You can still enjoy all the flavours of this salad by simply substituting something else for the bulgur. Add quinoa instead, as in this recipe for Red Quinoa Tabouli with Pomegranate. Or follow today's recipe and make it a gluten-free tabouli pasta salad instead!

    All the flavour, without the gluten. Tabouli with pasta is delicious!

    Overhead view of a serving bowl and two side dishes of tabouli pasta salad
    Jump to:
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make Tabouli Pasta Salad
    • 👍🏼 Helpful Tips
    • 🔁 Possible Variations
    • Storage Instructions
    • 🍽 Serving suggestions
    • 🗒More salad recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    🛒 Ingredients

    This is a very simple recipe with only a handful of ingredients. Before we get to the recipe below, here are a few notes about the ingredients you'll need to make this healthy tabouli pasta salad!

    pasta: any type! I use a gluten-free variety made with quinoa and rice in this tabouli pasta salad, but you can use your favourite pasta.

    olive oil and sea salt: for tossing the pasta.

    tomatoes: the best tabouli salad will have tomatoes that are fully ripe and have lots of flavour. I use sliced mini San Marzano tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.

    cucumbers: it's best to slice them lengthwise in half then remove the seeds. A teaspoon works well for this job.

    fresh parsley: use either curly parsley or flat Italian parsley. You'll be chopping it finely.

    fresh mint: don't leave it out! It adds fabulous, yet subtle flavour to this salad and helps to balance out the flavour of the parsley, which is naturally bitter.

    red onion: for a spicy bite! If you red onions too strongly flavoured, chop, soak them in water for 10 - 15 minutes, then drain and add to the salad.

    lemon juice: freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a beautiful brightness to this salad.

    garlic: just a couple of cloves

    Ingredients for Tabouli Pasta Salad

    🔪 How to make Tabouli Pasta Salad

    Pasta tossed with oil and salt for Tabouli Pasta Salad
    • Cook the pasta just to the al dente stage, following the directions on the package.
    • Drain, rinse under cool running water, then toss with extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt.
    • While the pasta is cooking, chop the tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, and onion and mince the garlic cloves.
    • Add the pasta to a large bowl, then add all ingredients to the bowl.
    • Toss to combine, then add an extra squeeze of lemon juice and some freshly ground black pepper. Serve right away or chill until serving time.
    Close up view of a bowl of tabouli pasta salad

    👍🏼 Helpful Tips

    You may be tempted to leave out the fresh mint. Denis and I both agreed that the mint really makes this salad stand out as something special! It adds a lot of fresh flavour and balances the natural bitterness of the parsley.

    🔁 Possible Variations

    Use whatever kind of pasta you like. I chose a gluten-free pasta made with quinoa and rice, but there are many varieties of pasta available, both gluten-free or made with wheat.

    Helpful Tip: If you are using gluten-free pasta, it does not sit well, so you will need to toss it with the dressing and serve it right away.

    Storage Instructions

    Store tightly covered in the fridge. This salad will stay fresh for 3 days or so. You may find that you'd like to add a little extra oil and lemon juice to your leftover salad as the pasta tends to absorb it.

    If you've used gluten-free pasta, it tends to turn a little mushy, so you won't enjoy it as leftovers!

    Tabouli Pasta Salad in three bowls

    🍽 Serving suggestions

    This tabouli pasta salad goes well with any Mediterranean meals or with casual meals like burgers. Try it with falafel. I like to serve it with veggie burgers or with:

    Open Faced Harissa Chicken Burgers with Yogurt Sauce

    Crispy Baked Zucchini Patties with Lemon Tahini Dip

    Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs with Tzatziki

    🗒More salad recipes

    • Overhead view of carrot salad with cranberries and sunflower seeds in a shallow bowl.
      Raw Carrot Salad with Honey-Dijon Dressing
    • Cucumber Mint Salad with Thai dressing
      Thai Cucumber Salad with Mint
    • Overhead view of a bowl of blackberry balsamic grilled chicken salad.
      Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad
    • A bowl of Mexican corn salad with a small dish of slice jalapeños beside.
      Mexican Corn Salad with Queso Fresco

    When you make this tabouli salad with pasta, please leave a comment and a star rating below. Thanks in advance! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.

    📖 Recipe

    Overhead view of a bowl of Tabouli Pasta Salad

    Easy Tabouli Pasta Salad

    All your favourite Middle Eastern tabouli flavours, now in an easy tabouli pasta salad! Toss fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and mint with pasta and toss it all with fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Easy and incredibly delicious.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 183kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups dried pasta, gluten-free, if necessary
    • ¼ cup olive oil, extra virgin
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 ½ cups tomatoes
    • 1 ½ cups cucumbers, seeded, finely diced
    • 1 ½ cups fresh parsley, finely chopped
    • ½ cup fresh mint, finely chopped
    • ½ cup red onion, finely diced
    • 1 med lemon, juice of
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta to the al dente stage, following the directions on the package. Drain, rinse under cool running water, then toss with extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt.
    • While the pasta is cooking, chop the tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, and onion and mince the garlic cloves.
    • Add the pasta to a large bowl, then add all ingredients to the bowl.
    • Toss to combine, then add an extra squeeze of lemon juice and some freshly ground black pepper. Serve right away or chill until serving time.

    Notes

    This recipe will make 4 large servings or 6 as a side dish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1517IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz

      May 10, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      I agree with the other comments--a good idea to sub in gluten-free pasta for bulgur. I've made this three time so thought I should finally comment and let you know how much we all like it.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 10, 2021 at 8:08 pm

        Thanks Liz! And I appreciate the 5 star rating!

        Reply
    2. Melissa

      March 30, 2021 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this salad! I made it with regular pasta and it was gobbled up!

      Reply
    3. Delores

      March 25, 2021 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      Such a great idea to use pasta. I usually make it with quinoa, but I decided to try it. I used a gluten-free fusilli pasta and it turned out really well. You're right--the mint really adds a fresh flavor. Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 25, 2021 at 1:49 pm

        Happy to hear that! Thanks for commenting.

        Reply

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    Elaine from Flavour and Savour

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    Gluten-free Made Easy!

    I create delicious gluten-free recipes that everyone can make. I’m here to show you that gluten-free eating doesn’t have to be complicated! I’ll help you make healthy meals that you’ll want to share with family and friends. About Me!

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