Walnut Tabouleh

DESCRIPTION

An interesting spin on a popular Middle Eastern mezze staple; this Tabouleh recipe combines traditional flavours of parsley and mint with an eastern touch of soy and allspice. Replacing traditional veggies with toasted walnuts adds the perfect crunch to mark the arrival of summer.

Total Time
40 Mins
Serves
5
Meal
Dinner Lunch
Course
Side

Total Time

Prep Time
20 Mins
Cook Time
20 Mins
Total Time
40 Mins

Nutrition

Calories
439 cal
Total Fat
33 g
Sodium
382 mg
Carbohydrates
31 g
Dietary Fiber
6 g
Protein
10 g

Ingredients

  • 1 small sweet potato
  • 3 tablespoons walnut or olive oil
  • 1 cup pomegranate juice
  • pinch allspice
  • 2 cups California walnut pieces, toasted
  • 2 cups quinoa, cooked and cooled
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 cups parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup mint, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • salt and pepper

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Cut sweet potato into 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes and toss with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of walnut or olive oil.
  3. Spread evenly onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the center rack for 20 minutes until light golden brown. Let cool.
  4. In a medium sized frying pan over high heat, combine pomegranate juice and allspice and bring to a boil. Simmer and reduce to 1/4 cup (50 mL) until lightly syrupy. Let cool.
  5. In a large bowl, mix walnuts, quinoa, shallot, parsley, mint and soy sauce; add sweet potato and pomegranate juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. Serve immediately.

Tips:

Quinoa can be replaced with brown rice, cracked wheat or couscous.

Toasting Walnuts:

  • Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Arrange walnuts on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, checking frequently.
  • Stovetop: Cook walnuts in a skillet at medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.