Trying different cuisines can make mealtime more exciting! Our friend Jenan sent us this recipe for a Lebanese salad that is packed full of delicious flavors and important nutrients for the whole family. Jenan gives tips on how to make the perfect Organic Saffeh Salad with our Organic Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers. Not only does the recipe call for 100% organic ingredients, it’s also quick and easy to make, so you can put a healthy meal on the table and spend more time doing the things that you love. I’m sure you’ve heard of the traditional tabbouli salad before, but have you heard of saffeh salad? It’s very similar and just as delicious! If you enjoy tabbouli, then you’re going to love this salad.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the traditional tabbouli salad before, but have you heard of saffeh salad? It’s very similar and just as delicious! If you enjoy tabbouli, then you’re going to love this salad.
Saffeh is basically a parsley salad – since there’s no lettuce in it. What sets saffeh apart from tabbouli is the chickpeas and bulgur. Coarse bulgur is used for saffeh, typically #2 and the chickpeas turn it into a protein packed salad! It’s a great side dish for backyard get-togethers or picnics at the park. Pair it with grilled meats, burger, wraps or even on its own. It’s a delicious, healthy salad that my family enjoys often during the summer months.
This time around, I added Pure Flavor® Organic Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers to the salad, and boy, am I glad I did! The crisp, sweet bite of the peppers pairs perfectly with the tanginess of the salad. I love these peppers because they’re the perfect bite size for a colorful appetizer. I sometimes slice the peppers in half, remove the seed and scoop some of the salad into them. It’s healthy, delicious and definitely a crowd pleaser!
Being a mom of three, life can get busy. I’m always trying to find ways to speed things up in the kitchen, especially when the weather is nice. We get a few months of nice weather here in Ontario, so I take full advantage of being outdoors and spending less time in the kitchen. That’s why saffeh is usually a go-to meal throughout the summer. It’s light, which is comforting when it’s hot out, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes! Did I mention that my kids love it? They especially love when I make them the mini saffeh stuffed peppers, they’re the perfect size for small hands!
I like to start the salad off with the bulgur. Since this salad calls for coarse bulgur, it needs a little time to soften up. I rinse the bulgur until the water runs clear, then soak it in boiling water. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to soften up, so while it’s doing its thing, I start on the dressing. Simply put the ingredients in a jar and shake it up to mix it together. While I chop the veggies, the dressing has a few minutes to marinate.
I’ve tried using a food process to chop the parsley (Remember how I told you I like to speed things up in the kitchen? I wasn’t joking!) but I find if you process it too much, it can become soggy. I recommend chopping it by hand. Once the parsley is ready, I move to the other vegetables. Since the parsley is finely chopped, I like to chop up the onions, tomatoes and peppers small as well. That way the chickpeas stand out and you get a little bit of everything in each bite!
It’s an easy salad that you and your family will not only enjoy over the summer months, but all year long too! Pure Flavor®’s veggies are greenhouse grown and available year-round – even their organics! I’ll be back.… Going to grab myself another stuffed saffeh pepper to snack on before the kids get home, and if you’re looking for the full recipe, you can find it here.
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