Tabouli is a fresh herb salad usually made with bulgur wheat. Here I make it with quinoa, a protein-rich seed that "pops" when you bite into it. Quinoa gives this side dish a lot of nutritional bang for your buck. You can also add a few pieces of leftover chicken or pork to turn tabouli into a meal. It also works well as a vegetarian main dish. Tabouli is hearty enough to stand up to rich meats, but the herbs and lemon juice give it a freshness that pairs well with fish and poultry, too. Whether you make it for dinner, a picnic, or a brown-bag lunch, this make-ahead-friendly recipe hits a lot of notes.
Rinse the quinoa under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve. Turn it out into a large microwave-safe bowl and add the water. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Set aside for 2 minutes and then carefully uncover and fluff with a fork. The quinoa should have a tender snap when you bite it - if it doesn't, cover and microwave for up to 1 minute longer.
Stir the parsley, cilantro, mint, tomatoes, and scallions into the quinoa. Whisk the lemon zest and juice with the olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to make a vinaigrette and pour it over the quinoa. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 1 hour for the flavors to combine before serving.
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Reprinted from the book Ten Dollar Dinners. Copyright (c) 2012 by Melissa d'Arabian. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.
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