Not Quite Tabbouleh

The weather has taken a plunge towards summer and today has been dreamily warm, something you really appreciate when the only time you normally feel your toes is towards the end of a steaming 20 minute shower.

So, time for Middle Eastern food, naturally. Ready made Tabbouleh is widely available in all French supermarkets, next to the Carottes Rapées. It comes in regular and oriental varieties (some added raisins usually) and can even be found with meat included, which makes shopping a touch more exciting for the dedicated vegan. Why take a chance with off the shelf when you can make your own? It's easy, cheap and nutritious.

Except, to make an authentic tabbouleh you'd have to do as I say and not as I do. Authentic tabbouleh is green with parsley and mint, fragrant with lemon and contains bulgur wheat.

This tomatoey version is made with couscous and because I had no parsley or lemons, just has a lot of mint and some red wine vinegar in the dressing.

Take some fine couscous and douse it in twice its volume of boiling water. You don't need too much, there should be far more vegetable and greens than cereal in this.

Skin and chop quite a lot of tomatoes into fine chunks. Skin and chop most of a long cucumber into fine dice. You don't have to peel the cuc. but I didn't like the look of mine. Chop a small onion (or some spring onions) finely. Take a big bunch of mint, and I have four types of mint as it happens but still no parsley, and chop it up too. Then mix all these veggies in a big bowl (and you can add peppers or anything else you fancy if you have them) with salt, olive oil and red wine vinegar to taste. I like a lot of everything. Mix well and add the rehydrated couscous. Oh, and because I think I'm not getting enough protein I chucked in a small tin of white haricot beans. Chickpeas were my first choice but I didn't have any of those either.

As usual this made easily enough for two but don't let that stop you. Leftovers are good for the soul.

Eat it with pleasure. Don't under any circumstances decide to serve it in a sundae glass because that's just silly and really difficult to eat from without spilling it everywhere.