Best 20 Bulgur Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth and bulgur to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender and broth is almost absorbed. Remove from the heat; let stand at room temperature, uncovered, until broth is absorbed. , In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. , In a large serving bowl, combine the bulgur, beans, tomatoes, cucumber and onions. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese and pine nuts.

HOW TO COOK BULGUR

Steps:

• Combine bulgur, 1 1/2 cups water, salt, and a drizzle of oil in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over low heat until tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Use immediately, or spread on a rimmed baking sheet to let cool.

BULGUR PILAF WITH CHICKPEAS AND HERBS

Steps:

• Drain the soaked chickpeas, and place in a pot with 1 quart water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer one hour. Add salt to taste and continue to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender.
• Place the bulgur in a 2-quart bowl. Place a strainer over the bowl, and drain the chickpeas so that the hot broth covers the bulgur. Set the chickpeas aside. Cover the bowl, and allow the bulgur to sit until fluffy, about 20 to 30 minutes. Strain and press out excess liquid.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet, and add the scallions. Cook, stirring, until tender, two or three minutes. Stir in the garlic, and continue to cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the bulgur and chickpeas. Add the herbs and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and toss together. Remove from the heat, add lemon juice and pepper, taste and adjust salt. Add more lemon juice if desired. Serve hot or room temperature.

BULGUR WHEAT SALAD

Steps:

• Place bulgur in a large bowl; stir in water. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. , In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, oil, garlic and salt. Stir into bulgur. Add parsley. , Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, stir in the tomatoes and onions.

BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• Toast 2 cups bulgur in 1 to 2 tablespoons each butter and olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until golden and crackly. Add 4 cups water and season with salt; cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the bulgur is just tender, about 20 minutes. Cut a seedless cucumber into chunks; toss with 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/4 cup chopped dill and a small handful of pitted, halved black olives. Serve the cucumbers over the bulgur. Photograph by Tina Rup

FRUIT AND NUT BULGUR PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook and stir bulgur until toasted. Stir in salt, pepper and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until tender and liquid is almost absorbed, 10-12 minutes., Stir in 1/3 cup each of the almonds, raisins, cranberries and apricots. Serve with the remaining almonds and fruit.

SOUR CHERRY BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• Add 2 cups water to a medium saucepot. Season with salt and drizzle in some olive oil, then stir in the bulgur. Bring a boil over high heat, then cover, lower to a simmer and cook until the grains are tender, about 1 hour. Allow bulgur to come to room temperature.
• Combine the bulgur wheat with the cherries, parsley, walnuts, red onion and dill in a large bowl, reserving about 1 tablespoon of each herb for garnish. Gently mix to combine. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice and grated garlic and season to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with feta, reserved herbs and a drizzle of olive oil.

BULGUR PILAF WITH DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS

Steps:

• Place the apricots and prunes in a bowl, cover with water and soak overnight or for several hours. Place a strainer over a bowl, and drain the dried fruit. Cut in thin slices.
• Measure out 2 cups of the soaking water (or add enough water to make 2 cups), and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the bulgur, and stir constantly for a few minutes until the bulgur smells toasty. Add the salt, dried fruit and water, and bring to a boil. Boil for five minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for eight to 10 minutes until the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat, cover with a clean dish towel and place a lid over the towel. Allow the bulgur to sit for 15 minutes.
• Spoon the bulgur into a serving dish, top with the nuts and serve with plain yogurt on the side.

MEDITERRANEAN BULGUR BOWL

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, combine the first 4 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until tender, 10-12 minutes. Stir in garbanzo beans; heat through., Remove from heat; stir in spinach. Let stand, covered, until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve warm, or refrigerate and serve cold.

BULGUR PILAF WITH DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Cook onion in oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add spices and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients with 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

BULGUR, SPINACH AND TOMATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the bulgur and salt to taste, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat, uncover and place a clean dish towel over the pan, then replace the lid. Allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes or longer. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, wide skillet or a shallow 3-quart saucepan and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes, sugar, salt to taste, and allspice or cinnamon. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down to a fragrant sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste, adjust salt and add freshly ground pepper.
• Steam the spinach until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes, rinse briefly with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Do this by the handful to get out all the water. Chop coarsely. Add to the bulgur. Add the mint and the chickpeas if using, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce and toss together.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish. Spread the bulgur mixture in the dish in an even layer. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle on the cheese. Drizzle on the last tablespoon of olive oil. Bake 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

CABBAGE WITH TOMATOES, BULGUR AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy lidded skillet or Dutch oven. Add the onion, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in a pinch of salt and the paprika. Cook, stirring, until the onion is thoroughly tender and infused with paprika, three to four minutes.
• Add the cabbage, and cook, stirring, for three minutes or until it begins to wilt. Stir in the tomatoes, sugar and vinegar, and add salt to taste. Bring to a simmer, lower the heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes until the cabbage is thoroughly tender.
• Stir in the dill and the water, and bring a to a boil. Add the bulgur and chickpeas. Stir to combine. When the water comes back to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer 10 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat, taste and adjust seasonings, and serve hot or at room temperature.

CHICKEN BULGUR SKILLET

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, cook and stir the carrots, onion, nuts, caraway seeds and cumin until onion starts to brown, 3-4 minutes. , Stir in bulgur. Gradually add broth; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; add the raisins, salt, cinnamon and chicken. Cover and simmer until bulgur is tender, 12-15 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN BULGUR

Steps:

• Toast 1 cup bulgur in a dry skillet until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Pour 2 1/2 cups boiling water over the bulgur in a heat-resistant bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let stand for 15 minutes, then toss with a little olive oil, some chopped dried apricots and olives, and salt and pepper to taste.

BREAKFAST BULGUR PORRIDGE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine milk, bulgur, raisins, salt, and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until bulgur is tender and mixture is the consistency of oatmeal, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Divide between 2 bowls; sprinkle with brown sugar. Serve porridge warm with strawberries, if using, and milk to taste.

MIDDLE EASTERN CHICKEN AND BULGUR

Steps:

• Heat on high a nonstick skillet that is large enough to hold all the ingredients. Reduce heat to medium-high, and add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Saute the chicken breasts until golden on both sides. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, chop whole onion. Add the remaining oil to the pan, and saute the onion until it softens and begins to turn golden. Meanwhile, mince garlic and add.
• Stir in the bulgur, cardamon, coriander and cumin and mix well. Add the stock, and reduce heat to medium-low. Return the chicken to the pan, cover and continue cooking until liquid has been absorbed.
• Meanwhile, grate lemon rind, squeeze juice and add both to pan as chicken and bulgur cook. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

RED LENTIL AND BULGUR SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a stockpot over low heat; cook and stir onion in the hot oil until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Cook and stir tomatoes, za'atar, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into onion mixture; stir to coat. Add carrot juice, water, chicken bouillon cube, tomato-flavored bouillon cube, lentils, and bulgur; cook over low heat until lentils are tender and bulgur has absorbed liquid, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Ladle about 2/3 the lentil mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Return puree to stockpot and stir. Simmer over low heat for about 5 more minutes to blend flavors. Remove from heat; stir lemon juice and cilantro into soup. Top individual servings with a dollop of sour cream.

BULGUR WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Soak dried mushrooms in hot water to cover.
• Heat butter in a skillet large enough to hold all ingredients. Saute onion and celery until soft.
• Meanwhile, clean and slice fresh mushrooms. When onion and celery are cooked, push them to side of pan and saute fresh mushrooms until they begin to color, 4 or 5 minutes.
• Squeeze liquid from dried mushrooms and stir them into the pan. Reserve mushroom-soaking liquid.
• Stir in bulgur and cook over medium heat until bulgur begins to color.
• Stir in beef stock and 1/4 cup of mushroom liquid. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 10 minutes, until bulgur grains soften. Season with salt and pepper. Add more mushroom liquid if needed. Freeze if desired.
• To serve, defrost and bring to room temperature. Reheat in 350-degree oven, covered, about 20 minutes, until steaming. Stir in toasted pecans and decorate with parsley.

BULGUR CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over bulgur. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature.
• In a small bowl, beat together oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pour over bulgur; and mix with a fork.
• Place bulgur in the bottom of a nice glass serving bowl. Layer vegetables and garbanzo beans in this order on top of the bulgur: green onions, garbanzo beans, parsley, and carrots on top. Cover, and refrigerate. Toss salad just before serving.

BULGUR, GARBANZO BEAN, AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Cook bulgur in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Add garbanzos and next 4 ingredients.
• Whisk vinegar and cumin in small bowl. Whisk in oil. Season dressing with salt and pepper; pour over bulgur to coat salad. Season with salt and pepper.