Kale Tabbouleh Salad

5 from 47 votes

Kale Tabbouleh Salad is a modern twist on the traditional Middle Eastern recipe, using kale instead of parsley along with tomatoes, bulgur, mint, lemon and olive oil

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Kale Tabbouleh Salad is such a fresh, flavorful and light summer salad! It’s based on my traditional Lebanese Tabbouleh recipe.  All I did was replace the parsley with kale. I also threw in a couple tablespoons of parsley still for good measure. I’m in love with this modern take on tabbouleh, and can’t believe how unbelievably similar it is in taste and texture!Large bowl of kale tabbouleh salad with serving spoons on the inside of the bowl

If you’ve wondering what is tabbouleh? It’s basically a Mediterranean salad that’s mostly made up of finely chopped parsley. It’s one of the most popular salads in the Middle East, and it’s often served as part of a traditional mezza that includes other salads and appetizers.

Why kale? Well, kale is far more mild than parsley so the taste is more palatable for most people. Kale tabbouleh a great way for you to try out the traditional recipe using kale as the hero ingredient instead of parsley, which can often be slightly bitter. Plus, when you chop it finely, it looks like parsley!

What do you need to make kale tabbouleh

  • Kale – This is the main item you’ll need, and it stands in for parsley. While any type of kale will work for the recipe, curly green kale is best. That’s because it most resembles curly parsley, which is traditionally used in the recipe.
  • Tomatoes – I prefer Roma tomatoes, but you can also use vine ripe tomatoes or Compari tomatoes. I would avoid the smaller tomatoes like cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes if you’re trying to keep it on the traditional side.
  • Green onions – You can also use spring onions. You’ll only use about two, but you’ll need the entire green and white parts.
  • Bulgur – Use fine bulgur – the smallest you can find! Bulgur is sold in four numbered grind sizes. You want to look for #1 which is the smallest grind and kinda looks like couscous.
  • Lemon Juice – Always go for fresh lemons, and roll them out before juicing them to release the maximum juice.
  • Olive OilHigh quality extra virgin olive oil makes all the difference in the taste.
Ingredients to make the recipe: kale, tomatoes, lemons, olive oil, bulgur, green onions and mint
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RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to make kale tabbouleh

This kale tabbouleh recipe involves a whole lot of chopping, from the kale, to the green onions to the mint and even the tomatoes. You want to rinse and dry everything well and finely chop all the ingredients.

Ingredients to make the recipe: chopped kale, chopped parsley, chopped mint, chopped green onions, seeded slices of Roma tomatoes and a lemon/olive oil/bulgur mixture

As you’re prepping the vegetables, you can begin to place everything into a large mixing bowl.

Large white bow with kale, parsley, mint, green onions and tomatoes

While you’re chopping the vegetables, I recommend that you soak the bulgur in the lemon juice and olive oil. You need to soak the bulgur for it to be palatable. But soaking it in water can sometimes dull the flavor. Try mixing it in a bowl with lemon juice and olive oil for 15-20 minutes. Then add it on top of the chopped vegetables when ready to mix and serve.

Large white bow with kale, parsley, mint, green onions and tomatoes topped with the olive oil/lemon juice/bulgur mixture

Now, you’ll just gently give everything a good mix to combine the salad with the bulgur mixture. And the kale tabbouleh is ready to wow your guests. You can serve it immediately at room temperature or chill for a couple hours before serving.

All the ingredients tossed together in a large white bowl

Tips for making Kale Tabbouleh

  1. Wash kale with cold water and dry thoroughly. This prevents the kale from wilting or being too soggy for the salad. I recommend using something like a salad spinner to make sure the kale is very dry before you start chopping it. And if you can do this step a day in advance, it allows it to fully dry out.
  2. Avoid using a food processor to chop the kale. This goes for the other vegetables as well. Using a food processor can wilt the kale and ruin the texture of the kale tabbouleh salad. It’s tedious to use a knife, but it honestly yields the best results from a taste and texture perspective.
  3. Mind the ratio of kale to bulgur. Many of the commercialized tabbouleh recipes I see focus a lot on the bulgur or grains. But the focus should be on the greens. The salad should be lightly studded with the bulgur instead of lightly sprinkled with kale.
  4. Drain the tomatoes. Just like we want to avoid soaking the bulgur in water, we want to avoid excess liquid from the tomatoes. So after chopping the tomatoes, place them on a mesh sieve to drain the liquid. You can also core them like I do to remove the juicy flesh. And then use the juices in other recipes like soups, rice, or stews.
Kale tabbouleh Salad after mixing and ready to be eaten

I was so impressed when I first tried this kale tabbouleh recipe. The kale has a milder taste than parsley so you can easily have a large bowl as a meal. The salad is loaded with antioxidant rich kale, bursting with citrusy flavor and always a conversation starter. Most people have had tabbouleh somewhere sometime. A great salad for the summer and a newly favorite salad of mine, this is a recipe I will literally be making all summer long!

My other tabbouleh recipes:

More summer salads:

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Kale Tabbouleh Salad recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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Kale Tabbouleh Salad

Kale Tabbouleh Salad is a modern twist on the traditional Middle Eastern recipe, using kale instead of parsley along with tomatoes, bulgur, mint, lemon and olive oil
5 from 47 votes
Servings 4 servings
Course Salads
Calories 289
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup extra fine bulgur wheat
  • 1 bunch kale finely chopped (about 3 cups)
  • 1-2 vine-ripe firm tomatoes
  • 2 green onions green and white parts
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice until well combined. Then add the bulgur to the dressing and let it soak until it’s soft and plumped, about 15 minutes.
  • Place the kale, parsley, tomatoes, green onions and mint in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the bulgur and dressing mixture over. Gently toss to combine.
  • Serve at room temperature or cold.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-4 days in the fridge. The salad will start to release water from the tomatoes, but this is normal. You can eat it that way or drain the liquid if you desire.
Make Ahead Tips: I would highly recommend washing and drying the kale and couple tablespoons parsley a day or two days in advance of chopping it. This gives the kale time to dry properly and remain dry when you chop it.
Sourcing: You can find the bulgur at Middle Eastern markets, natural-foods stores or even in large supermarkets, often located with other Middle Eastern ingredients.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. If you want to make this grain-free, you can substitute the bulgur for quinoa or even riced cauliflower.
* Please note the nutrition label does not include any toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 157mg, Potassium: 236mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 2015IU, Vitamin C: 31.8mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Course: Salads

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Comments

  1. I can’t wait to try this as I’m making it at this very moment, and have always loved tabbouleh. I promise to rate the recipe when I’m done and can eat it. but for now I wanted to just tell you – I don’t know if others here noticed or not, but- It looks like you didn’t include adding the parsley in your instructions! I presumed that it would probably get mixed with the other four ingredients (kale, tomatoes, mint and scallions),before the bulghur and dressing got mixed in. I just thought you’d want to know that, so if you wanted you could fill in the parsley’s place in this recipe, to update.

    1. You are spot on! Thank you so much for pointing that out. I updated the instructions to say add the parsley. I hope you enjoyed it!

  2. I love love love every single recipe on your blog! I don’t google anymore – if I want to try something new or don’t know what to do with things in the fridge, I just come here. Thank you!

  3. Love your kale tabouleh recipe. I was surprised that it was a hit even with the rest of the family! So much easier than the traditional version. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  4. I love this salad… the traditional is a tad strong for me, so the kale makes it so yummy for me!! Thank you so much for sharing!

    1. There are so many ways to enjoy the traditional salad, so I’m glad this one hit the spot for you! You’re so welcome!