Flavors of the Mediterranean come alive in this tomatokeftedes and cauliflower tabbouleh salad, with fried tomato balls topping a fresh and delicious tabbouleh made with cauliflower rice.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Tuttorosso Tomatoes! As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
tomatokeftedes and cauliflower tabbouleh salad

A five course dinner party with all of your favorite people and none of the hassle of actually throwing a dinner party.

You don’t even have to clean your house.

Not even a once-over with the vacuum. (Which is great because who knows where we even keep the vacuum?! Not I.)

You also don’t have to iron your clothes, make your bed, or put on make-up.

You’re like, Joanne what have you done with the space-time continuum?!

And I’m like Virtual Dinner Party baby, YEAH!

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Tuttorosso Tomatoes must have sensed the aching void growing in my heart since our last dinner party (and also my disdain for all things Domestic Goddess) when they invited me to participate in their Inspiralize the Spring campaign as part of their celebratory Virtual Dinner Party! Every day this week, a different blogger will provide a new course for this virtual fiesta. Ali kicked it off yesterday with her fabulous Italian Zucchini Pasta Spring Rolls, and I’m up next with the salad course!

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The only criteria for the recipes was that they had to be spiralized, so of course I turned to my spiralizing encyclopedia, otherwise known as the Inspiralized Cookbook! While flipping through the soups and salads chapter, I was immediately drawn to this Mediterranean-themed salad. The flavors from this part of the world are always so bright and fresh – perfect for spring. Plus, I am married to a Greek boy so it’s really only appropriate that I get some Greek salads under my belt already. Sheesh.

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The salad itself is made up of three components – the tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters), the cauliflower tabbouleh, and the tzatziki. Both the cauliflower tabbouleh and the tzatziki can be prepared ahead of time, and basically just require some chopping, spiralizing, and mixing. These end up being the base for the salad and are essentially a gluten-free version of tabbouleh made with cauliflower rice in place of bulgur! The tomatokeftedes, on the other hand, are like the icing on the salad cake. They are basically fritters made from juicy Tuttorosso tomatoes, chickpea flour, and a mix of Mediterranaena herbs. You could bake them or fry them, but be sure to keep in mind that  they taste best on the day they are made, as they get soggy after an extended stay in the fridge, so make sure you cook them right before you are planning to eat them.

Each bite of this salad is filled with the best mix of flavors and textures. Just make sure not to fill up on it too much, because we do still have three courses to go, and they are worth saving room for.

virtual dinner party

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Tomatokeftedes with Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad
 
Flavors of the Mediterranean come alive in this tomatokeftedes and cauliflower tabbouleh salad, with fried tomato balls topping a fresh and delicious tabbouleh made with cauliflower rice.
Yield: 2-3 servings
Ingredients
For the tomatokeftedes
  • 1 cup of drained diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup chopped scallions, green and white parts
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ cup chickpea flour or whole wheat flour
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • peanut oil, for frying
For the tabbouleh
  • 1 large seedless cucumber, spiralized with Blade C
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets
  • ½ cup finely diced red onion
  • 3 tbsp chopped flat parsley
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
For the tzatziki
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • ¼ tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ½ tbsp chopped fresh dill
  • ¾ tbsp lemon juice
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. To make the tomatokeftedes, mix together all of the ingredients in a large bowl, stirring the mixture together until it is thick and sticky. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. If needed, add more flour. In a medium cast-iron skillet, heat about 1 inch of peanut oil over high heat. Form the tomatokeftedes about the size of a golf ball. Add them to the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan. Fry for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining batter. Alternatively, you can bake the tomatokeftedes at 400F for 25 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
  2. Once the tomatokeftedes are done, make the tabbouleh. Pat dry the cucumber noodles. Pulse the cauliflower florets in a food processor until rice-like. Add the onion, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, and lemon juice to the food processor. Pulse until well combined.
  3. Prepare the tzatziki by whisking the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  4. To assemble the meal, toss together the cucumber noodles and the tabbouleh. Divide into serving bowls and top with the tomatokeftedes. Drizzle over the tzatziki sauce and serve.
Notes
Very slightly adapted from the Inspiralized Cookbook
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ⅓ of recipe

 More Mediterranean flavors:

greek salad with hummus dressing

Greek Salad with Hummus Dressing

one-pot spaghetti with greek tea, feta, and kalamata olives

One-Pot Spaghetti with Greek Tea, Feta, and Kalamata Olives

mediterranean tabbouleh hummus dip

Mediterranean Tabbouleh Hummus Dip

From Around the Web:

Greek Zucchini Pie from Closet Cooking

Skinny Greek Mac and Cheese from Well Plated

Greek Pita Pizzas from Pink Parsley

Greek Chickpea Salad Sandwiches from She Likes Food

Mediterranean Dip from Lemons for Lulu

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tomatokeftedes with cauliflower tabbouleh
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47 Responses to Tomatokeftedes with Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad

  1. Emma says:

    Yuuuuuuuuum this looks so fresh and flavour packed! Plus virtual dinner parties… you may be onto something. I’ll bring the wine?!

  2. I haven’t heard of these before, but they sound delicious. It’s nice to find different ways to use tomatoes.

  3. I am so disappointed that I don’t have this for lunch!

  4. I just want every single component of this gorgeous salad in my belly ASAP. Starting with those fritters. Holy MOLY…..

  5. Oh my goodness I am DROOLING over every single ingredient! You are speaking my love language!

  6. Meg says:

    Well, this looks absolutely delicious! Love the idea of a virtual dinner party, too . . . I’m all about limiting my domestic chores lately. 🙂

  7. Heather says:

    Anything that bright and colorful is definitely worth trying!

  8. sandra says:

    Never heard of tomatokeftedes – but they look so good I must make them!! And I need to get me a spiralizer.

  9. How I have made it through life so far not knowing what a tomatokeftede is until now?? Cannot wait to try this out 🙂

  10. Zainab says:

    First of all these look amazing!! And that dinner menu is a killer 🙂

  11. I’ve been wanting to try cauliflower rice…I bet as tabbouleh (one of my favorite things ever!) it would be delish.

    Can’t wait for tomato season to hit.

  12. mira says:

    Never tried something like this, but I can tell it tastes amazing from the pictures!!!

  13. rebecca says:

    so flavorful and healthy great

  14. Those tomato fritters look fabulous! Paired with that tabbouleh and you have a wonderful, satisfying entree!

  15. Lori R. says:

    Oooh! Tomatokeftedes are completely new to me. I must make!

  16. You know how I feel about my salads Joanne. And you always have some amazing recipes here. I just love this. Beautiful post.

    Kay of Pure & Complex
    http://www.purecomplex.com

  17. This really looks amazing! I love how you transformed this to vegetarian and made it even healthier!

  18. Kathleen says:

    Seriously sounds like the best kind of dinner party to have! The menu sounds amazing. I bought a spiralizer because my daughter uses hers virtually every day. I still haven’t used it!!!!

  19. Girl, you’ve done it again! Made something that is fresh and totally flavorful and that I WANT in my mouth nowwww 🙂 Yum!

  20. You beat me to it, I’m planning a cauliflower tabouleh for next week! And thanks for introducing me to the tomatoes, I hadn’t heard of them before.

  21. grace says:

    very nicely done, joanne! you’ve spiralized your way right into my heart of hearts (also known as my stomach…). 🙂

  22. Love the look of those tomatokeftedes – have bookmarked them to try soon!

  23. Lynn says:

    Might just have to try these! (I usually just want food to fall out of my computer screen onto a plate.) 🙂

  24. I love a good virtual dinner party!!!

  25. So how exactly do you pronounce ‘tomatokeftedes?’ 😉 No matter, they look amazing. And what a fun virtual dinner party – though I’d prefer a real one where I could try everything!

  26. that looks so good.. the tomatokeftedes.
    love Greek food.

  27. My goodness—-I didn’t know quite what to expect, but it is eye poppin’ visually appealing. And wow I love these two dishes! Very special.

    I don’t normally talk about ME, but please make note of the slight name change from Wild Goose Tea. New web design—whoopee and adding some features too.

  28. I love the thought of a virtual dinner party, too fun. Tomatokeftedes, such a catchy name. They look delicious.

  29. Sues says:

    Virtual dinner parties are the best!!! But, uh, can you send me some of this, please?? 🙂

  30. Monica says:

    Such fun, Joanne. I am so intrigued by the tomato fritters. Never had anything like that and would love to!

  31. The virtual dinner party sounds like so much fun! And yess, I’m all for parties that don’t involve me shoving clothes and chachkies into the closet. I’m so in love with these tomato fritters right now. SUCH a great idea!

  32. This looks magically delicious! I love particularly those tomatokeftedes!

  33. This looks divine! Love the tmatokeftedes so perfect with tzatziki! 😀

  34. Okay, I really need a spiralizer. I shouldn’t look at your blog before breakfast..

  35. These tomato fritters look awesome I’m definitely going to give these a go, Im so hungry now.

  36. I have no idea what tomatokeftedes is but I want it!!! and wouldn’t this be an awesome dinner party to attend in real life! 🙂 I love everything Greek!!! this looks so good!!!

  37. Kelly says:

    So fun! Love parties where no clean up is required! This salad is perfect! Love the flavors and those tomato fritters!

  38. This sounds like the perfect dinner party! Those tomatokeftedes sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to try!

  39. My kind of dinner party and your meal sounds absolutely delicious 🙂

  40. Definitely my kind of dinner party 😀 This dish looks delicious and tomatokeftedes is my new favourite word!

  41. Not that the whole dish doesn’t look amazing but I just might be in love with the tomato keftedes. Anything remotely fritter-like has my attention lately. 😉 Great job!

  42. Johanna GGG says:

    tomato fritters – sounds bizarre and so good, esp with chickpea flour – and the tabbouleh sounds delicious and healthy – I’m sold!

  43. Kate says:

    I love virtual dinner parties because I can come in my pajamas!

  44. Love all of the veggies and flavours in this meal!

  45. Charlotte says:

    I absolutely love Ali’s blog and book but I liked that your version used canned tomatoes (I had some open), so I made this for dinner for a friend last night.
    It was a huge hit! The cauiflower tabbouleh in particular – that’s going to be my lunch next week!
    I served this with some sweet potatoes wedges and pitta bread.

    Thanks so much for a great recipe!

    Charlotte

  46. elly says:

    Keftedes! Look at you, being all Greek. 🙂

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