Learn to cook dinner bulgur wheat with this straightforward recipe! Plus, discover suggestions for storing and serving this nutty, chewy, and nutritious entire grain.
Chewy, nutty, and extremely straightforward to cook dinner, bulgur wheat is nice for a lot greater than tabbouleh!
This entire grain will all the time have a spot in my pantry. In case you’re interested by including it to yours, I’m sharing a full information to bulgur under. Study what it’s, easy methods to cook dinner it, easy methods to retailer it, and extra!
What Is Bulgur Wheat?
Bulgur is par-boiled, dried, and cracked wheat that could be a staple of Center Japanese delicacies. It’s one of many key components in tabbouleh salad, however you’ll additionally discover it in Center Japanese dishes akin to kubbeh or kibbeh, kofta, and stuffed greens.
Wealthy in protein and fiber, bulgur has a light, nutty taste and chewy texture. At Center Japanese markets or on-line, you’ll find it in a wide range of ranges of coarseness, starting from wonderful to extra-coarse. Many American grocery shops carry solely the coarse wheat.
Bulgur vs. Cracked Wheat
Bulgur is a sort of cracked wheat…however not all cracked wheat is bulgur. The distinction is that bulgur is par-boiled, or partially cooked, within the manufacturing course of. Because of this, it has a a lot shorter cooking time than different cracked wheat. Actually, you don’t need to “cook dinner” it in any respect—merely soaking it is sufficient to soften it. Discover directions for making ready it within the bulgur recipe under!
The right way to Prepare dinner Bulgur Wheat
The tactic you employ to cook dinner this grain will rely on what sort of bulgur you may have.
- To arrange 1 cup of wonderful bulgur, place it in a medium bowl and add chilly water to cowl it by 1/2-inch. Set it apart to soak for 20 minutes, or till tender. Drain the surplus liquid and fluff with a fork earlier than utilizing.
- To arrange 1 cup of coarse bulgur wheat, convey 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir the grains into the new water, cowl, and take away from the warmth. Let sit for 20 to half-hour, or till tender. Drain any extra liquid and fluff with a fork earlier than utilizing.
As you’ll be able to see, making ready each of a lot of these bulgur wheat is easy. The coarse wheat simply requires extra time and warmer water to turn out to be absolutely tender.
Methods to Use Bulgur Wheat
After getting this cooked grain available, you’ll haven’t any bother discovering methods to make use of it up. Listed below are a couple of concepts to get you began:
- As a easy aspect dish. Make a fast pilaf by tossing the wheat with olive oil, recent lemon juice, sea salt, pine nuts, and chopped recent parsley. Serve alongside your favourite protein!
- In a grain bowl. Swap it in for the quinoa on this Mediterranean quinoa bowl.
- In salads. Strive it in tabbouleh and extra!
- In stuffed greens. See the Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant recipe on web page 179 of Love & Lemons Each Day!
- In soups and stews. It makes them thick and hearty.
How do you want to make use of this wholesome grain? Let me know within the feedback!
Observe that bulgur just isn’t gluten-free, so if you happen to’re avoiding gluten, it’s best to go for one other grain. Quinoa and brown rice are wonderful substitutes.
Storage
Retailer dry bulgur in a cool, dry place, akin to a cabinet or pantry, for a yr or extra. Maintain it within the fridge or freezer to increase its shelf life even longer.
When you cook dinner it, it should maintain in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. You too can freeze the cooked grains. Unfold them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for two hours. Then, switch to an hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge or within the microwave.
Extra Complete Grains to Strive
For those who cherished studying easy methods to cook dinner this entire grain, strive wheat berries, farro, or quinoa subsequent!
The right way to Prepare dinner Bulgur Wheat
Serves 4
This straightforward recipe is my favourite methodology for cooking coarse bulgur wheat. Chewy and nutty, the cooked bulgur is scrumptious in salads, grain bowls, and extra!
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
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Deliver the water to a boil in a small or medium pot over excessive warmth.
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Stir within the bulgur, cowl, flip off the warmth, and put aside for 20 to half-hour, or till tender. Drain extra water. Fluff with a fork.