When it gets hot in Houston, in my family we like to say that "it feels like summertime." If you live on the East Coast then you know about the heat wave -- it definitely felt like summertime. I have been hoping and praying for warm weather and I got it -- plus 90 degree weather for 4 days in a row! Of course, as luck would have it, I also had no air conditioning during that heat wave. And before all of you start thinking and telling me what some friends told me, to open my windows and get some cross ventilation, I DID. OK? But here's the deal: a) not all of my windows open, many have been painted shut b) I live on a busy street and I'm paranoid so there's no way I'm opening the front windows (and it doesn't matter because only one opens) c) I grew up in a world of central air and ceiling fans in bedrooms, ok? The heat and humidity in Houston are fine because you can escape to the inside coolness. I don't like to blast the AC because I'm normally always cold (don't get me started on why I wear a sweater in the summertime in Houston) but I also don't like to be inside and have it be over 84 degrees either in my house (and it was).
With the warmth of the house, there was no way I was going to turn on the oven or the stove and actually cook. I was pondering what I could make to eat that didn't require any heat and this tabbouleh came to mind. Yes, it requires hot water but other than that it's a heat free dish and, added bonus, you eat it cold and it's refreshing, to say the least. I love tabbouleh but I'd never made it at home before. By the way, if you happen to live in Houston or Dallas, I think that Fadi's has the best tabbouleh ever, just my opinion.
Chicken and Feta Tabbouleh
Cooking Light, April 2009
4 servings
3/4 cup uncooked bulgur
1 c boiling water
2 cups chopped skinless boneless rotisserie chicken breast (I used some leftover chicken breasts that I'd grilled)
1 cup chopped plum tomato
1 cup chopped English cucumber
3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup (2 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1. Place bulgur in a medium bowl; cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Let stand 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
2. Combine chicken and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add bulgur to chicken mixture; toss gently to combine.
I really, really liked this and I will definitely make it again. The first day that I ate it the bulgur was definitely al dente and it was a little bit different than the tabbouleh that I've had in the past but the flavor was so much better. The second day I added a little bit more lemon juice and olive oil because the bulgur had soaked most of it up. It's very simple to put together; most of the work is in chopping the various ingredients. This tabbouleh definitely helped me through the heat-wave-without-cooling funk that I was in!
Note: Of course, Murphy's Law being what it is, now that the temperature has dropped significantly, my air conditioning will be fixed today. C'est la vie, at least the next time that it's hot I won't have to freak out the entire time.
15 comments:
That looks so delicious (and healthy, to boot)! And I LOVE me some feta! Great recipe!
And it was SO hot here in DC this weekend! But what's up with the 25 degree drop in temps today???
I've never had tabbouleh but that looks fantastic! I hear you on the heat. I was standing at the stove making my TWD chocolate custard yesterday and it was brutal!!
Wonderful looking recipe. It looks so filling and healthy too! I hope you figure out how to stay cool in your home. I could not live with out AC and Idaho does not get to hot in the summer. Our summers are the best time of year 80s and 90s is hot for us!
I love tabbouleh! It's getting close to summertime here - we're already having to run the a/c - so this is something I'll be making really soon!
I seriously was just saying to myself I need to learn to make this so I can make a healthier version of a salad I often get for lunch. Thanks!
i'm not a big tabbouleh person, but this does look lovely. i hate opening my windows because i'm on a big street, too... freaks me out :) hopefully your ac will come on soon!!
I never had cheese in tabbouleh, I am sure that give the dish an special taste.
Can I let you in on a secret as someone who grew up in a house in the Northeast with no central air? Cross breezes = lies, lies, lies! My childhood bedroom was on the corner of the house and had two windows ideal for achieving that mythical cross breeze. Well, a 90 degree breeze is still 90 degrees! That's why I think summers in the North are SO much worse than summers in the South -- here, everything is air conditioned. Anyway, your tabbouleh looks great - definitely a great warm weather meal!
Hello Jessica. Thank you for coming by my blog. So you live in Houston? My son and daughter-in-law live in the Fort Worth area and I hear there's been lots of rain out in your part of the state. Kindly send some out to El Paso...PLEASE. Love the chicken recipe.
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Love your salad! Perfect meal for Spring!
I love tabbouleh. Your's looks very pretty with all the colors. The addition of feta sounds wonderful too.
Yum I love tabboulah! Our weather has been crazy here in Alabama. Cold, then hot, then cold.
You will love the spaghetti!!
i'm in maryland too. i am missing the 90 degree weather, today and yesterday were just so blah. i refuse to turn my air on yet so i was suffering through that heat wave as well with temps inside above 80! :P i love love love tabbouleh. it is so refreshing and yours looks delicious. :)
I'm a native Atlanta, Jessica, so I totally hear you. I live in Berkeley now, and no one in the Bay Area has AC. It usually doesn't matter, but when it gets to be 90 degrees...it's killer!! I'm glad that this meal didn't involve any heat producing source :) I love tabbouleh and can't wait to try your recipe!
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