• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hint of Healthy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Collections
  • Cooking Skills
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Salads

    Tuna bulgur salad with chickpeas

    Posted: Oct 3, 2019 Β· Updated: Feb 12, 2021 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe

    This healthy and hearty tuna bulgur salad with chickpeas and cucumbers is a a quick, no cook recipe for an easy dinner or lunch. Sometimes we love a good recipe that requires no use of a stove or the oven. All you need is a kettle or some other way to boil water, and that's it. This salad also contains no lettuce for you picky eaters out there, requires five ingredients only, and is amazing for meal prep. It's low calorie, it's healthy, it's yummy, it's kid friendly, and easy. It's one of my current favorite lunches to bring to work because of how easy and filling it is, and I am sure you will love it too.

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Tuna bulgur salad on a plate with a slice of lemon on the side.

    What is bulgur?

    Bulgur is parboiled grains of wheat, typically durum wheat, that's very commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. The consistency and flavor is very similar to a coarse type of couscous. Bulgur is often used in dishes where you could also use couscous or rice. It has to cooked before serving, and can be served either plain as a side dish, or incorporated into a dish like this salad.

    How to make this salad

    First of, we have to cook the bulgur. In the recipe we use bulgur that's already cooked, so if you have leftover bulgur, you're already good to go. Cooking bulgur is ridiculously easy, and actually does not require any real cooking at all. All you need is to boil some water. I usually use my kettle, but you can use a saucepan or any other water boiling device.

    Add your bulgur wheat to a bowl. Pour boiling water into the bowl so that it covers the bulgur completely, and reaches a tiny bit higher than the wheat. Cover with a tea towel and leave it for about 30 minutes. The bulgur will absorb the water, and the grains will become soft. It’s important to cover the bowl with a towel or some plastic foil, if not the top layer of grains will dry out. That’s it! Bulgur is done. I make my bulgur plain for this recipe, but you could also add some seasoning to the bowl with the water.

    When the bulgur is done, add it to a salad bowl. Then, add diced cucumber, tinned tuna, tinned chickpeas, a bunch of chopped fresh basil, and mix it all together. I'm not a fan on salad dressings, so I serve this with a lemon wedge to squeeze some lemon juice on top, but you can also make a lemon pepper vinaigrette, or use your dressing of choice.

    Tips and suggestions for the perfect tuna bulgur salad

    Don't omit the basil! For the longest time when I was new to cooking, I would always omit fresh herbs from any recipe that I made. I figured it was a waste of money and that any dish would be fine without. Or I would just use a little bit of dry herbs as a substitute. The fresh basil honestly makes this dish. There is so much flavor in those little leaves, and it's what takes this salad from being a boring "whatever I found in the cupboard" meal to a full on glorious party on a plate. If you can't have basil, you can replace it with some fresh mint, which is completely different but also nice, but definitely don't omit the fresh herbs.

    You can substitute the bulgur. Bulgur is an integral part of a tuna and bulgur salad (it's even in the name!), but you can substitute it for quinoa or couscous if that's more easily available to you. I have made this with leftover quinoa or leftover couscous in the past with great success. Quinoa is a great option if you want to add even more protein to the dish!

    Storing this dish - meal prep info

    This tuna bulgur salad is perfect for meal prep. As a completed meal, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to prepare multiple meals, for example make enough portions for a full 5 day work week, I suggest you cook enough bulgur, which can be stored in a container for up to 5 days, and then add it to the other ingredients through the week while packing your lunch. This only takes two minutes in the morning anyway.

    Enjoy this recipe? Check out these filling salads!

    • Pasta salad with tuna
    • Mediterranean chickpea salad
    • Chicken and mango salad
    • Smoked salmon and quinoa salad
    • Sweet potato chickpea salad with kale and walnuts
    • ... or browse all salad recipes
    Tuna bulgur salad with chickpeas and cucumber on a plate ready to serve.

    Tuna bulgur salad

    This delicious and easy salad is perfect as a quick and filling meal. It's very healthy, kid friendly, and requires no cooking. An instant family favorite, or a perfect candidate for meal prep!
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Course lunch, Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine International
    Servings 2
    Calories 495 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 200 g cucumber
    • 145 g tin of tuna chunks in brine
    • 150 g cooked bulgur or about 80 g uncooked
    • Β½ tin chickpeas based on a 400 ml tin
    • fresh basil

    Instructions
     

    • To prepare bulgur: add about 80g uncooked bulgur to a bowl, and add boiling water until it completely covers the grains and then some. Cover the bowl with a tea towel, and leave for 30 minutes until the water is completely absorbed.
    • Dice the cucumber, and add to a salad bowl along with tuna chunks and cooked bulgur.
    • Drain and rinse chickpeas, and add to the salad bowl.
    • Finally, roughly chop some fresh basil, and add to the salad. Combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
    • Serve as is, or with a vinaigrette or a squeeze of lemon juice.

    Notes

    Don't omit the basil!
    For the longest time when I was new to cooking, I would always omit fresh herbs from any recipe that I made. I figured it was a waste of money and that any dish would be fine without. Or I would just use a little bit of dry herbs as a substitute. The fresh basil honestly makes this dish. There is so much flavor in those little leaves, and it's what takes this salad from being a boring "whatever I found in the cupboard" meal to a full on glorious party on a plate. If you can't have basil, you can replace it with some fresh mint, which is completely different but also nice, but definitely don't omit the fresh herbs.
    You can substitute the bulgur.
    Bulgur is an integral part of a tuna and bulgur salad (it's even in the name!), but you can substitute it for quinoa or couscous if that's more easily available to you. I have made this with leftover quinoa or leftover couscous in the past with great success. Quinoa is a great option if you want to add even more protein to the dish!

    Storing this dish - meal prep info

    This dish is perfect for meal prep. As a completed meal, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to prepare multiple meals, for example make enough portions for a full 5 day work week, I suggest you cook enough bulgur, which can be stored in a container for up to 5 days, and then add it to the other ingredients through the week while packing your lunch. This only takes two minutes in the morning anyway.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 495kcalCarbohydrates: 86gProtein: 33gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 864mgFiber: 22gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 102mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword basil, bulgur, chickpeas, cucumber, lemon, tuna
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!
    « Skinny Mexican Casserole
    Healthy gingerbread pancakes »

    Latest Recipes

    Strawberry Walnut Salad.

    Strawberry Walnut Salad

    What to serve with duck breast written across photos of several side dishes.

    What to Serve With Duck Breast

    Spicy harissa pasta with tomatoes and onions.

    Spicy Harissa Pasta

    A hand peeling a hard boiled egg.

    Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mohammed

      November 13, 2020 at 8:44 am

      Lovely recipe πŸ˜‹πŸ˜€

      Reply
      • Tonje

        November 13, 2020 at 9:15 am

        Thanks Mohammed, I'm glad you liked it!

        Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

    More about me β†’

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer Eggplant
    • Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
    • Crepes with Almond Milk
    • Air Fryer Pork Roast
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Air Fryer Tilapia

    As Seen In

    Hint of healthy as seen in

    Footer


    2022 Β© Hint of Healthy Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact About