Ugh….Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter. One thing I’ve had enough of: wearing boots all the time! I’d say it’s time to move on. Let’s do that with our food choices too. I love a good bowl of warming soup, but it’s time to bring in more salad. Grain-free tabbouleh is just the winter salad to perk things up.
Riced Cauliflower and Broccoli for a Grain-Free Tabbouleh:
If you’re doing whole30 or trying to cut back on grains, riced veggies are the way to go. Using riced cauliflower or broccoli in place of some or all of the grains in your recipes is actually genius. More vegetables, yet somehow it doesn’t seem like it. Simple swaps like this enable me to enjoy some of my favorite recipes , while not compromising on my health goals. The texture of the riced veggies mimics that of rice, couscous or bulgur wheat enabling me to add in nutrition and not sacrifice taste.
Recipe Creativity:
This recipe for winter tabbouleh is flexible. If you can’t find fresh pomegranates or seeds, you can substitute unsulfured golden raisins…or if you wanted that punch of color, use unsweetened and unsulfured dried cranberries or cherries. I prefer the pomegranate seeds because they don’t have all the sugar of dried fruit, plus I love their texture. If tree nuts are an issue, you can sub sunflower seeds for the pistachios or something else crunchy like diced celery. Use my recipe as a starting point and make this salad yours!
What is sumac?
Sumac is a reddish-purple powder used as a spice in Middle Eastern Cuisine to add a tart, lemony taste to salads or meat. Last summer when I was making this nectarine salad on the regular, I became obsessed with Sumac. While I wait for nectarines to be back in season, I’ll continue crushing on this grain-free tabbouleh which really isn’t a sacrifice at all. I love the way the tartness of the sumac evokes summer without having to use summer produce when it’s not in season. If you don’t have any sumac, add a bit more lemon zest and/or lemon juice to produce that tang.
I’m not a big believer in the Ground Hog Day tradition, but (spoiler alert) the weather forecast doesn’t look like it’s moderating any time soon—and I am a believer of eating in season as much as possible. Time to expand the winter repertoire, and add this delicious winter tabbouleh into the rotation. Although summer tabbouleh is one of my favorites, I draw the line when the tomatoes have had to be refrigerator trucked in. It’s full of fall and winter ingredients with just a touch of spring hinted at to bring hope that warmer days will be heading our way.
More salad recipes to enjoy:
- Easy Chopped Salad
- Riced Broccoli and Quinoa Salad
- Harvest salad with apple vinaigrette
- Butternut Squash Salad
Winter Tabbouleh
Gluten-Free Tabbouleh uses a combo of riced cauliflower and broccoli for a grain-like texture. Fresh herbs and lots of greens make this delicious salad nutrient dense.
Ingredients
- 5 cups riced broccoli or cauliflower or a combo.
- 1-2 cups kale *
- 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1 shallot, minced
- ⅓ cup pistachios, chopped
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sumac (optional)
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Rice the cauliflower/broccoli in food processor or thaw if using frozen riced cauliflower.
- If you're using curly kale, wash and dry thoroughly before roughly chopping.
- In a small measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil and honey. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine veggies, greens, herbs and all spices, including lemon zest and juice. Pour dressing over and mix well.
- Store in airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Flavors will intensify as they mingle, but salad will not become wilted.
Notes
* You can buy already riced cauliflower and broccoli either in the produce section or the frozen section of most supermarkets. If you buy it already riced, pick through broccoli and discard any woody stems. If you're ricing it yourself, cut iInto florets and also use the stems of the broccoli or the core of the cauliflower. Trim off the really woody part of the stems...pulse the florets and the stems in a food processor until desired rice like consistency.
KALE: any kind will work well. Curly green or purple, lacinato, baby kale. They will all hold up to the dressing if you make this in advance.
MAKE AHEAD: Tabbouleh can be made in advance. Mix oil, lemon juice and honey in a jar with tight fitting lid. Mix everything else together in an airtight container. Store in fridge until ready to mix and serve. Can be served cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 156Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 186mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 5gSugar: 9gProtein: 4g
Leslie
Awesome stuff! This is perfect. I have to have gluten-free and this fits the bill. It looks delicious.
Debra Klein
Perfect for gluten-free individuals….and it gives the same satisfaction as if it did have grains.
Ellen
Such a great side dish. It will be perfect for holiday entertaining.
Debra Klein
Right? Those pomegranate seeds add the perfect burst of color….and flavor…plus you can make this in advance.
Traci
What a beautiful salad! I’m in love with every single ingredient you added to this recipe. This is the kind of salad I make and eat all week. Thanks for sharing…just pinned!
Debra Klein
Exactly! It actually gets better as it sits, so I often make this during meal prep on Sunday and use it in lunches and dinners all week.
Shanika
Wow, this dish looks amazing! It’s packed with so many nutrients and veggies! Definitely the perfect side dish for the Holidays!
Debra Klein
Gotta sneak in the nutrition wherever you can!
Shinta Simon
This sounds fresh, clean and exactly what I need right now! I love using pomegranate and honey to my salads as well. Thank you for sharing!
Debra Klein
Fresh, clean and exactly what many of us need right now! Thank YOU!
Laurie
Not just for winter! Works perfectly in summer with cherry tomatoes from the garden. I love my grains but there are some times I crave a lighter dish–made this just the other day and it was yummy!
Debra Klein
For sure! Also in the summer, I have all the herbs growing in my garden….makes it so easy.
Laurie
Oops–forgot to rate–but I give this five stars!