Tabouleh

This recipe was in the Ladies' Home Journal, March 2014.  The secret is to use a lot of parsley.

3/4 cup dry bulgur wheat
1 small red onion, finely diced
2 scallions, white and green parts, finely sliced
1 1/2 cups minced flat-leaf parsley
1 plum tomato, finely diced
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Lettuce laves, for serving (optional)

Cook bulgur according to package directions to yield 2 cups.  In a large bowl combine cooked bulgur, onion, scallions, parsley and tomato.  In a second bowl whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, lemon zest, and pepper.  Pour dressing over bulgur mixture and toss to coat.  Scoop onto lettuce laves, if desired to eat with hands.
Makes 4 cups.  80 cal., per 1/2 cup serving. 

Baba Ganoush

(This is a great alternative or addition to serving hummus. It is good with or without the mint.)

2 small eggplants

1 garlic clove, crushed

4 Tbsp tahini

1/4 c. ground almonds

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves

2 Tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

Broil the eggplant, turing them frequently until the skin is blackened and blistered. Remove the skin, chop the flesh roughly and let drain in a colander. Wait for 30 minutes, then squeeze out as much liquid from the eggplant as possible. Place the eggplant flesh in an blender. Add the garlic, tahini, almonds, lemon juice and cumin. Season, then blend until smooth paste. Chop half the mint and stir in. Spoon into bowl, sprinkle the remaining mint leaves on top and drizzle with live oil. Serve with pita.

Creamy Quinoa Tabouleh

2 c. sprouted chickpeas

2 1/2 c. water

1/4 c. tahini

1/4 c tahini

1/4 c. sliced burdock

1/4 c. lemon juice

2 tsp sea salt

1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved

1 Tbsp nama shoyu

2/3 c. mint, chopped

1/3 c. diced cucumber

1/3 c. chopped parsley

1 Tbsp garlic

1 tsp minced jalapeno

1 tsp minced ginger

1/2 c. olive oil

1 c. sprouted quinoa

In a blender combine chickpeas and water. Blend well. Pour the chickpea mix into a fine sieve over the sink. Rinse the chickpea mix and pour it back into the blender. Add the tahini, burdock, lemon juice, sea salt, and blend until creamy. Transfer blender contents into a serving bowl and fold in the cherry tomatoes, 1 Tbsp nama shoyu, mint, cucumber, parsley, garlic, jalapeno, ginger, olive oil, and quinoa. Serve.