Turkish Style Bulgur Pilaf (Bulgur Pilavi)
Turkish Style Bulgur Pilaf (Bulgur Pilavi)
Description
Bulgur pilaf is a classic dish in Turkish cuisine. This Turkish pilaf recipe is easy to make; very healthy and delicious. It is often served as a side dish for many main dishes. However you can also enjoy it on its own with some plain yogurt. It's comparable to rice and couscous but has a nutty flavor.
What is Bulgur?
Bulgur, is also called bulgur wheat, is one of the popular dishes in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions.
It is usually made from durum wheat. In fact, it is cracked wheat that is parboiled, dried, and then broken into various smaller pieces.
It can be served as a side dish, similar to rice, and is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, iron, vitamins and contains gluten.
Interestingly, bulgur wheat comes as fine, medium, coarse and extra course. Usually, the fine variety is used for salads like “Kisir” or “Tabbouleh”. Generally, is not cooked but soaked in hot water. On the other hand, the other sizes need to be cooked in water or stock like we do with rice. However, cooking time depends on the size of the bulgur. Actually, to make a good pilaf, it is best to use coarse or extra coarse bulgur. You don’t need to wash bulgur before cooking it.
In terms of nutrition, bulgur holds its own when compared to fiber-rich brown rice – with more than twice the fiber and four times as much folate! Bulgur can be used in recipes calling for converted rice, and has been found to be more nutritious than rice.
Ingredients
How to Cook Turkish Style Bulgur Pilaf?
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Put olive oil in a deep pan.
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Saute with chopped onions, tomatoes, cubanelle pepper, and salt over medium heat stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
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Add the bulgur wheat and boiling water. Cover and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed.
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Remove from the heat, sprinkle dry mint, and fluff with a fork.
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Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve.
Bon Appetit!
Note
Tips for Making Turkish Style Bulgur Pilaf
There are different bulgur wheat recipes and different types of bulgur in Turkish cuisine. Different types of bulgur wheat require different cooking times.
The course or extra course type need to be used to get better results for this recipe.
If you are using fine or medium type of bulgur wheat, you will likely need to reduce the water or cooking time to keep it from becoming mushy.
You don’t need to wash bulgur before cooking it.
How Much Dry Bulgur for 1 Cup Cooked?
1 cup of dried bulgur wheat grains yields 3 cups of fluffy cooked bulgur.
How Much Rice Pilaf per Person?
A typical single serving of rice is 1/2 cup for a side dish or 1 cup for a main dish per person. So one cup of cooked rice will serve 1-2 people. One cup of uncooked rice amounts to about 3 cups of cooked rice, so it will serve 3-6 people.
How Long Does Bulgur Need to Soak?
It depends of the type of the bulgur wheat. Boil the bulgur wheat in water for 10-15 mins, or put in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20-30 mins, until the water is absorbed and the grains are tender. Soaking the bulgur will give you a chewier texture, which is perfect for salads like tabbouleh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulgur is made by parboiling whole wheat and drying it (usually in the sun), and then grinding it into various grain sizes from fine to coarse. Fine bulgur is usually used for salads such as Turkish bulgur salad (Kisir), tabouli or stuffed aubergine with bulgur. Coarse bulgur is usually used to make pilaf.
Pilaf made with bulgur wheat instead of rice and usually without meat.
You can soak bulgur in boiling water to cook it, but you don't need to soak it before cooking if you're adding it to a dish.
Bulgur,also called bulgur wheat, cereal food made of wheat groats that have been parboiled, dried, and ground. Commercial bulgur is usually made from durum wheat, though other wheat species can be used.
In terms of nutrition, bulgur holds its own when compared to fiber-rich brown rice – with more than twice the fiber and four times as much folate! Bulgur can be used in recipes calling for converted rice, and has been found to be more nutritious than rice. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber-rich foods like bulgur may reduce chronic disease risk, promote weight loss, and improve digestion and gut health. Plus, bulgur is easy to cook and can be added to many dishes, including salads, stews, and breads.
