White Bean Tabbouleh Salad is all the herby freshness of Tabbouleh, with the bulgur switched for white beans to make a more substantial salad. It’s a fresh, lemony, herby bean salad that’s totally delicious and good for you.
An excellent starch + veg side dish, or light meal for warm days. Plus it’s alot more interesting than the run-of-the-mill bean salads around!
White Bean Tabbouleh Salad
I don’t know if you have people in your life like me who don’t exactly jump up and down at the mention of a bean salad.
But throw the word “Tabbouleh” in there, and suddenly, it sounds a whole lot more interesting. Visions of lots of fresh parsley, hint of mint, dotted with tomato and cucumber, and that distinct lemony freshness.
Don’t worry. I didn’t just throw the word “Tabbouleh” into the name. I actually threw all the flavours of Tabbouleh in there too!!
Ingredients in white bean salad
The ingredients in this bean salad are literally everything that you find in Tabbouleh, except I’ve switched the bulgur for white beans:
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Parsley – the key ingredient in this dish, the reason why tabbouleh is the first thing most people think of when the parsley is growing wild in the garden!
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Mint – an essential part of a truly great fresh Tabbouleh! It’s a subtle background flavour, some people can’t actually pick that it’s in the salad. But without it, you’re missing a hint of freshness;
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Tomatoes and cucumber – though in real Tabbouleh, these are a secondary ingredient, here in this bean salad version, I scale the quantities up to increase the fresh / juicy factor;
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Beans – I’ve used cannellini beans here, simply because it’s the canned beans I always, always have in the pantry. But any beans will work a treat here – white or any other colour, fresh or cooked dried! (Notes in the recipe for cooking dried beans)
Remember that beans are good for you??
One of the most underrated foods in the world! Said to be the world’s best source of plant based protein, beans provide dietary fibre, Vitamin B, and other important vitamins and minerals. Research shows that they can help to reduce blood sugar and improve cholesterol levels. Plus, it’s a low glycemic food (“GI”) which means it will keep you full for longer.
We should all eat more beans!!
Lemon Dressing for White Bean Tabbouleh Salad
And here’s what goes in my go-to Lemon Dressing which has made an appearance in many main course and side salad recipes I’ve shared over the years, including the recent Brown Rice Salad:
Ordinarily, Tabbouleh is soaked in lemon juice then a touch of olive oil is later added to take the sharp edge off the lemon.
But for this recipe, I’m making a proper Lemon Dressing for this recipe because I want the dressing to be thicker so it clings to the white beans. In order to achieve this, the Dressing needs to be properly thickened by shaking it vigorously in a jar, plus I also add a touch of Dijon Mustard which thickens it even more.
How to make White Bean Tabbouleh Salad
Shake up the Dressing in a jar, lots of chopping and toss, toss, toss!
What to serve with Tabbouleh White Bean Salad
This would be a great side dish OR stuffed into wraps for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes that traditionally include or are perfectly paired with Tabbouleh, such as Greek Chicken Gyros. Here are some more suggestions:
But there’s no need to stop there! While this Bean Salad will go with any protein, I think the freshness makes it ideal to pair with white meats (chicken, turkey, lean pork) or any seafood. Try it with a grilled marinated chicken breast or a piece of Grilled Salmon. Garlic Prawns or CRISPY Grilled Prawns or some Lemon Garlic Marinated Pork Chops.
For a quick meal, gently fold through some chunks of tuna (preferably in oil, not spring water), top with slices of the juiciest ever Poached Chicken Breast or hard boiled egg (quartered or sliced).
Also, it makes a great stuffing for a wrap – you’ll see me in the video smearing a piece of flatbread with hummus, piling on this Bean Salad then rolling it up. YUM! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Tabbouleh White Bean Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 800g / 24 oz (2 cans) white beans (like cannellini, navy/haricot, butter beans) , drained (Note 1 & 3)
- 4 tomatoes , cut into 1.25cm / 1/2" pieces
- 3 cucumbers (or 1 1/2 long English/Telegraph cucumbers), cut into 1.25cm / 1/2" pieces
- 1/2 red onion , finely chopped
- 1 cup parsley , roughly chopped (1 large bunch)
- 1/3 cup mint , roughly chopped
Lemon Dressing:
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove , small, minced using garlic press
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp salt , kosher/cooking salt (1/4 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
- Place Salad ingredients in a big bowl. Drizzle over most of the Dressing, toss well.
- Transfer to serving bowl. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
- 1 can = 1 3/4 cups beans once drained
- Recipe calls for 2 cans = 3 1/2 cups beans
- 1 cup dried beans = 2 3/4 cups cooked
- So you will need approx 1 1/4 cups dried beans (1.25 x 2.75 = ~3.5 cups cooked beans)
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Don’t think for a second that he’s taking a pause in his hectic schedule to stop and smell the roses. Nope. I just made a subtle gesture that indicated there might be something tasty in that vicinity, and he shoved his nose right in there to check.
He came up empty. 😂
Deee-licious!! Thanks for yet another quick & easy recipe that packs a healthy punch. I left out he cucumber as I don’t like it, & used spring onion – as that’s all I had. Beautiful!!
I made this for a family reunion.
It was easy to make, looked very colourful and tasted delicious. Thank you for the recipe Nagi.
Hi Nagi, perfectly beautiful salad. The whole family loved it. I will be adding it on Christmas Day to our menu; it has quite a festive appearance. Thank you!
My favourite salad, and now my go to recipe as its the perfect amount of each ingredient. The ingenious swap out of bulger for beans just made this a main meal for me. Honestly, I could eat it all day!
Seriously good salad. Excellent for any meal. Love salads for Summer breakfast
Wish pomegranates were more readily available here in WA, though. Pats and hugs for Dozer 🙂
Thank you very much for this recipe. I had plenty of parsely in my backyard garden and wanted to use it up before it get old. I made quinoa tabbouleh a lot and I am getting tired of it. I saw your white bean version and I am pleasantly surprised. It was so good. I am printing the recipe to keep in my favorite recipe book. Now, I have to research your other recipes.
This salad is sooo good Nagi. Easy to make and it was loved by all. My son had the leftovers for breakfast, good sign that he loved it.
Will be making it a lot in the future warmer months.
That’s mean / playing Tricks on Dozera, but he looks Fan, just beautiful. YUMI salad , thank YOU. Please be good.
Made this. SO GOOD. My husband wants that to be the only dressing we use from now on!
really great – I think the dressing is really good. thank you for the recipe
WOW. Hi Nagi. Your salad really grabbed my attention. Made it tonight. Yummy. As I read through your post I also made your lamb Koftas with yogurt sauce and your no yeast flatbread. I make my own yogurt and with the exception of using yogurt whey in place of milk in the flatbreads…followed the recipes to a tee. Awesome. Thank you so much.
Any suggestions of what to use in place of cucumbers? Allergies 🙁
Hi Irene, you can just leave them out if you prefer or add some capsicum! N x
Thanks Nagi 😊
Kids just made your brownies…😋
It was very tasty.
Thanks Shifa!! N x
I made the chicken curry yesterday….absolutely delicious but rather hot. Will tone down the curry powder next time. Pam
I’m so glad you loved it Pam – different brands of curry powder have different heat levels too, can I ask which brand you used? N x
Just finished making this recipe! Had everything I needed either in the fridge or garden 🙂 Will be a summer go to. So easy to make & couldn’t be any fresher.
Perfect Shelly, that’s great to hear!! N x
I made this for lunch today. Delicious!!! Will be making this salad for work lunches.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Lisa – perfect for lunch with a side of rotisserie chook – it couldn’t be any easier! N x