Spicy Tabbouleh Recipes

SPICY TABBOULEH WITH CUMIN AND BACON TARATOUR SAUCE

Steps:

• For the tabbouleh: Place the bulghur wheat in a bowl and cover with water. Stir in the salt and soak for 40 minutes, or until the a bulghur is softened but still a bit crunchy. When ready, drain the water from the bulghur wheat, squeezing out as much moisture as possible with your hands.
• Place the bulghur wheat in a large bowl and add the tomatoes, the parsley, the bacon and the cumin. Mix well. Add the lemon juice, the olive oil and the harissa. Mix well and taste for seasoning. Cover. Reserve in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just before serving, moisten with a bit of olive oil.
• For the taratour sauce: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Beat in 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold water in a stream.
• Wine: 1986 Domaines Ott Bandol Rose

SPICY TABBOULEH

Steps:

• In a bowl, soak the bulgur in the hot water for 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the bulgur with the remaining ingredients. Season with salt.

TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Place the bulghur in a large bowl, pour in the boiling water, and add the lemon juice, olive oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Stir, then allow to stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Add the scallions, mint, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper; mix well. Season, to taste, and serve or cover and refrigerate. The flavor will improve if the tabbouleh sits for a few hours.

SPICY MIDDLE-EASTERN ALLIGATOR WITH RICE PILAF AND TABBOULEH SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the beaten egg whites, garlic, lemon juice, and red chili powder. Using a meat tenderizer, pound all of the alligator fillets until they are tender. Marinate the alligator in the egg white mixture for about 20 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Remove the alligator fillets from the marinade and sprinkle them with salt. Carefully place the alligator fillets in the pan, and saute them until browned. Work in batches as necessary. Flip the fillets with tongs or with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side, and the meat is cooked through.
• In a medium bowl, cover the bulgur wheat with warm water and allow it to soak for approximately 20 minutes. Pour the bulgur wheat into a strainer, and then squeeze out all of the excess water. Mix the lemon juice, salt, and pepper with the bulgur wheat and set aside.
• Wash the parsley, and dry it thoroughly. Chop the parsley very finely and combine it, along with the tomatoes and scallions, with the bulgur wheat mixture. Stir the olive oil into the salad until it is thoroughly covered. Add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as desired, to adjust the taste.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over high heat. Add the rice and noodles to the pan, and fry them in the butter. Add approximately 1 1/2 cups of water to the pan and lower the heat to medium-low. Cover the pan with a tightly-fitting lid, and allow the rice mixture to steam until all the water is absorbed. Season with salt, to taste.

AUBERGINE WITH SPICY APRICOT TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Boil the kettle and tip the couscous into a heatproof bowl. Rub in the harissa with your fingers, then stir in the apricots and ground coriander. Pour over 2 ½ tbsp boiling water, cover, then leave the couscous to swell for 5 mins.
• When the couscous is cooked, fluff it up with a fork and stir in the spring onion, chickpeas, 2 tbsp chopped herbs, 1 tbsp oil and all but 1 tsp of the lemon juice. Season well and set aside.
• Slice a thick slice off the rounded end of the aubergine. Using a small knife and teaspoon, cut and scrape out most of the aubergine flesh until you have a 1-2cm thick shell left (see Tip below for using up the aubergine). Brush inside and out with another tbsp of oil, then tightly pack in the couscous. Return the slice to the bottom of the aubergine to seal, then wrap tightly in two layers of foil. The stuffed aubergine will sit happily for up to a day in the fridge.
• Just before you begin barbecuing, mix the remaining herbs with the remaining oil and lemon juice and some seasoning. Sit the aubergine over the coolest part of the barbecue, and cook for about 30 mins, turning. To test if the aubergine is done, stick in a skewer - if the aubergine feels soft and the skewer feels hot when it comes out then it's ready. To serve, unwrap the aubergine and thickly slice. Sit a few slices on a plate and drizzle with the herby dressing.

TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Rinse the bulgur wheat in a sieve until the water runs clear. Drain well, then transfer to a bowl. Pour over 200ml boiling water, cover with cling film and leave to soak for 30 mins or so while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Keeping the parsley in a bunch, chop the leaves roughly. Don't worry about the inclusion of some of the stalks; this all adds to the flavour. Now do the same with the mint. Put the chopped herbs in a large bowl and add the tomato and spring onion.
• Thoroughly drain the bulgur, then add to herb mix, along with lemon juice and olive oil. Mix thoroughly, season and serve.