17 Messed Up Ways People Have Ruined Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh - the beloved national salad of Lebanon. This refreshing, lemony creation was born in the mountains of Lebanon using only a few common ingredients.

So simple and mouthwatering, the recipe was passed on through the generations and is served daily across the country. Its popularity does not stop in the Lebanese kitchen, however. The famous tabbouleh salad found its way to tabletops around the world.

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But as the world witnessed the audacious ways hummus has been manipulated into things like hummus without chickpeas (!), milkshakes, ice cream, and other baked goods where it doesn't belong, the same happened to our dear tabbouleh.

And no, this is not about the most acceptable quinoa tabbouleh, it's worse.

We Lebanese cannot stand by and allow abominations like these to continue to exist. They must be exposed! (note: some of these actually sound yum, but that's not the point here, isn't it? Tabbouleh is tabbouleh, period.)

To the horror of all Lebanese, here are some bizarre recipes online that ruin tabbouleh:

#1 Broccoli Hummus Tabbouleh

No Spoon Necessary

Here we are, minding our business, peacefully eating our tabbouleh, when bam! Someone drops broccoli into it. Just why? It gets worse though. This recipe substitutes bulgur with broccoli rice, adds sweet corn, pepitas, and goat cheese!

Thought that was bad? Hear this: the recipe calls for a hummus-based dressing instead of the traditional olive oil and lemon juice! Result? This is no longer Tabbouleh. Not even a hybrid of it!

#2 Asparagus and herb "tabbouleh" with a tahini yogurt dressing

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This salad has no business being called tabbouleh. Do you see a Tabbouleh there? Not even a hint of it. Where has gone the parsley...? And the tomatoes? Ya3neh , where are all the ingredients of the real Tabbouleh?

#3 Cauliflower rice tabbouleh

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Cauliflower rice instead of bulgur? And olives??

#4 By adding cheese cubes

Jo's Kitchen Larder

Where is the Tabbouleh?

#5 Strawberry tabbouleh?

Love & Lemons

Mixing strawberries, cucumbers, and bulgur and calling it tabbouleh is a big No-No. Like... seriously? What has the Tabbouleh done to you to deserve that?

#6 Tabbouleh pizza??

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This one is next level.

#7 Tabbouleh with feta cheese over hummus...

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Not sure what's worse with this one, the said tabbouleh on hummus or the feta cheese in the tabbouleh.

#8 Butternut tabbouleh