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An aerial image of a grey speckled ceramic bowl filled with low FODMAP tabbouleh on an olive green backdrop. Two sunlit glasses of water sit to the top right of the image.

Low FODMAP tabbouleh

*This recipe uses Australian cups and measures. Use gram and ml for international accuracy.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling time 20 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Food Intolerance Friendly
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 100g (1/2 cup)* white quinoa
  • 250-310ml (1- 1 ½ cups)* water
  • 1 medium common tomato chopped into small cubes (approx. 40g tomato per serve)
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • 200 g flat leaf parsley or a mix of both finely chopped (this was 2 extra large bunches from an independent grocer, I'd recommend weighing your bunches as the parsley is critical to a good tabbouleh)
  • 5-6 spring onion greens finely chopped
  • 60-100 ml (3-5 tablespoons)* fresh lemon juice, to your tastes
  • 60-80 ml (3-4 tablespoons)* good quality olive oil, to your tastes
  • Seasoning to your tastes
  • 1-2 cloves pickled garlic, crushed (optional, see notes)

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the quinoa and place it in a medium saucepan with the water. Place over a medium heat, add a pinch of salt and cook until the water has evaporated and the quinoa grains have unfurled. Remove from the heat, then cover the saucepan and allow to steam dry for 15-20 minutes. Allow the quinoa to cool completely before proceeding.
  • Chop your tomato into small cubes and place it in a sieve over a bowl or the sink. Sprinkle over a pinch of salt to encourage the tomato to expel excess liquid.
  • Finely chop the parsley and spring onion greens and add them to a large bowl. I find it easier to knuckle down and chop it myself as opposed to using a food processor. My experience was that the processor made for soggy and unevenly cut parsley with long stringy stems.
  • Add the cool quinoa to the bowl and stir to combine.
  • Add the olive oil and lemon juice in increments until you reach your desired level of flavour. You might need more or less than I specified – it’s a matter of preference (but lemony zing is important!
  • Season to taste and stir through the pickled garlic, if you’re using it. Taste and adjust as necessary, then stir through the tomato. I find it best to do this last to avoid making it too mushy. Serve with whatever you fancy! Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-4 days. I recommend adding the tomato fresh if you plan to make this dish ahead of time.

Notes

  • See the body of the post for FODMAP notes.
  • Pickled garlic is a new low FODMAP ingredient. It is low FODMAP in 3g serves and contains moderate amounts of fructose in serves exceeding 29g. I have a recipe for pickled garlic here.
  • Loads of parsley is integral to a good tabbouleh. I trim the very bottom of the stems and then use the stems (finely chopped) in the tabbouleh as well. If you're based in Australia, I recommend trying to get your parsley somewhere other than the big supermarkets as they are notoriously stingy with herbs. Buying 200g of parsley will become quite expensive when you are buying those (criminal) 15g plastic packets. Parsley is easily purchased from independent grocers and the bunches are enormous; it shouldn't be expensive. 
  • Scale the tomato up or down depending on what you are serving your tabbouleh with. 65g of common tomato is a low FODMAP (fructose) serve and 75g contains moderate amounts of fructose.
  • If you are serving your tabbouleh with a higher fructose ingredient, scale down the tomato or omit it altogether. 
Keyword low fodmap salad, Low FODMAP tabbouleh, Low FODMAP tabbouli, Low FODMAP tabouli
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