Quinoa Tabouli

Gluten Free, Vegan Tabouli

Similar to Israeli salad, Tabouli is a refreshing, Mediterranean salad that is typically made with bulgur or cracked wheat – a Celiac’s nightmare.  But…when you replace the wheat with organic quinoa (which is the seed of the Chenopodium or Goosefoot plant), you can enjoy a traditional dish with a twist. And, it’s a hearty meal you can enjoy as part of Meatless Mondays, if you participate. 🙂

Please note: While quinoa has been recommended by some doctors as a gluten-free alternative, there have been studies that have shown quinoa to cause issues for those with Celiac and gluten sensitivities, due to one of two things: 1) Processing. Often times quinoa is processed in facilities with other grains that contain gluten, and thereby it is cross contaminated, negatively affecting those with gluten sensitivity, as the tiniest bit of gluten can cause intestinal damage and discomfort. 2) Quinoa is a seed, making it hard to digest, in general, and many seeds have gluten-like proteins that have been shown to cause digestive inflammatory issues.  More information on quinoa can be found here. 

With that said, double check your quinoa package to make sure it was processed in a gluten-free facility. And, if you haven’t tried quinoa, try a small amount to make sure it works for you. For some with Celiac Disease, it is a life saver. For others, it is another food to avoid.

Ingredients: (serves 2)

• 2 cups cooked quinoa (follow the cooking instructions on your package)
• 1/3 cup scallions (chopped)
• 1/3 cup mint (chopped)
• 1 and 1/4 cup flat parsley (chopped)
• 1/2 large cucumber (diced)
• 10 cherry tomatoes (cut into quarters)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 small to medium lemon (squeezed)
• 1/2 – 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 medium to large garlic clove (minced)

Instructions:

• In small bowl, add your olive oil, garlic, lemon and salt. Whisk together and set aside.
• In large bowl, add your scallions, mint, parsley, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
• Add your cooked quinoa and dressing to your veggies and mix well.  Voila!

🙂