Mediterranean food. Tabbouleh. Hummus.

I felt like Mediterranean food and decided to make tabbouleh with hummus.  You can pair it with chicken and pita bread, and you'll have a wonderful light healthy meal.

Recipe for Tabbouleh

Prep time: 35 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes

4 servings, 1 cup each

You need:

• 1 cup water
• ½ cup bulgur
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2 cups finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (about 2 bunches)
• ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Combine water and bulgur in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil, remove from heat, cover and let stand until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is tender, 25 minutes or according to package directions. If any water remains, drain bulgur in a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 15 minutes.

2. Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Add parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumber and scallions to the bulgur. Add the dressing and toss. Serve at room temperature or chill for at least 1 hour to serve cold.

Recipe for Hummus

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes

You need:

• 4 garlic cloves, mashed and then minced
• 2 15-ounce cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
• 2/3 cup of tahini (roasted, not raw)
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• Parsley (chopped) for garnish

Directions

1. In a food processor, combine the garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste.

2. Spoon into serving dish and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley.

Serve with crackers, raw dip vegetables such as carrots or celery, or with pita bread. You can cut the pita bread into thin triangles, brush with olive oil and toast for 10 minutes in a 400°F oven to make pita chips with which to serve the hummus.

Makes about 3 cups.