Hello from TINA KASHIAN! Bulgur, also known as cracked wheat, is a staple for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking and a healthy alternative to white rice. What is cracked wheat? Cracked wheat, or bulgur, are whole wheat berries that are milled into smaller pieces. The milling process speeds up the cooking time while preserving the fiber and nutrients. Bulgur wheat comes in four different sizes of coarseness: fine, medium coarse, coarse, and extra coarse bulgur. Fine bulgur is used for tabouleh, and I’ll share my recipe in the future. You can find bulgur in the international section of most supermarkets. This recipe is delicious, full of flavor, and replaces plain, boiled rice as a side dish. Bulgur pilaf requires coarse bulgur, or bulgur number 3. Bulgur is not hard to cook with, but it takes a bit more cooking fluid than rice. I’m sharing my own family’s recipe today.
Ingredients:
1 cup of coarse bulgur (also called bulgur #3)
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
½ cup fine egg noodles
2 ¼ cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat butter and oil in a two-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the fine egg noodles and stir to coat. Cook about three minutes, stirring often. Butter will start to foam.
Sauté gently, stirring with a spoon constantly until the noodles are evenly golden.
Add the bulgur and stir for a minute until the mixture is well combined. Add the chicken broth. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower heat until mixture is simmering.
Keep bulgur covered and let cook for ten minutes. Turn off the burner, then leave saucepan on the burner for an additional ten minutes. It’s tempting to lift the lid to check the bulgur, but you want to keep it covered to fully cook. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour bulgur pilaf into a serving dish and enjoy!
To enter to win a signed, print copy of “On the Lamb” from my Kebab Kitchen series, please share. Have you ever had bulgur? Or what is the favorite side dish for your family? Please list your email address to be included in the giveaway!
Lucy
Berberian is busy preparing her family’s Mediterranean restaurant for Easter on
the Jersey Shore—but a batch of sweets is to die for . . .
Bikers are thundering into the seaside town of Ocean Crest for the annual
Bikers on the Beach gathering that raises funds for injured veterans. It’s a
big boost for the Kebab Kitchen, as well as for local businesses like Melanie
Haven’s candy shop. But Melanie is about to find herself in a sticky situation.
When Melanie and Lucy attend a beach bonfire, a local landlord is found dead
after apparently choking on a piece of salt water taffy. Melanie, who was known
to have a contentious relationship with the victim, is quickly skewered as the
prime suspect. But Lucy is determined to prove her friend’s innocence before
the real killer coasts free . . .
Recipes Included!
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Tina Kashian is an attorney and a former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two daughters.
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I haven't eaten bulgur in years. Must remedy that! This sounds yummy, Tina.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Edith! I've been noticing it more in Greek restaurants, too. I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteIt sounds delicious! I need to try it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda!
DeleteI’ve never had the opportunity to try bulgur, but it does sound delicious.
ReplyDeleteMy family loves the recipe below for one of our side dishes.
Green Bean & Shoepeg Corn Casserole
Serves 8
Ingredients
1 can French style green beans, drained
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained
1 can celery soup, undiluted
1 ½ cups grated Mild Cheddar
½ cup sour cream
½ cup chopped onion
1 can water chestnuts, finely chopped
1 roll or tube of Ritz crackers
1 stick of butter, melted
Spray casserole dish with non-stick spray.
Place drained green beans in casserole dish.
Top with drained shoepeg corn.
In bowl mix celery soup, cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions and water chestnuts until combined. Spoon on top of veggies in casserole dish.
Crumble crackers in bowl and drizzle with melted butter. Stir to coat crackers. Sprinkle over top of cheese mixture in casserole dish.
Bake in a 350 degree oven uncovered for 40 minutes.
NOTES: This goes great for a potluck dish. It’s great hot, warm, or room temperature. It never seems to make it to the refrigerator as leftovers but I’m sure it would reheat nicely too.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “On the Lamb”. It’s on my TBR list and can’t wait to read it. Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Hi Kay! This sounds delicious. I love green bean dishes. It's extra yummy because my kids eat Ritz crackers a lot and like them. I bet they would enjoy this vegetable dish and I will try it!
DeleteMy family loves stir fried vegetables.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
Stir fry veggies are yummy!
DeleteI have not had bulgur in a long time but your recipe sounds yummy
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hope you can try it out or at home one day
DeleteNot sure if I have ever had bulger. When I lived in Pittsburgh PA, I had a friend who's family had a Mediterranean Restaurant and we all got together and her family treated us to a rainbow of delishious offerings. lindalou64(@)live(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! How nice! It's always special when friends invite us over for different kids of food. I miss that!
DeleteHave never tried it but it looks good.
ReplyDeleteterry0743@ol.com
I've never had bulgur! Having grown up in Texas/Louisiana rice has been our main side dish, more so than potatoes.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
I do like rice and beans a lot and I'm sure I'd enjoy Texas and Louisiana recipes.
DeleteI've never had this. Our family favorite is fried potatoes or green beans with bacon and eggs.
ReplyDeletekozo9989(at)hotmail(dot)com
I've never had bulgur. I usually serve potatoes or rice. Sounds like a great new side dish to try.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you! You can find bulgur in all supermarket international aisles nowadays.
DeleteNever had bulgur. Sounds interesting. We usually do veggies or rice for a side a lot. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletejarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
I've never had bulgur. I grew up in an asian household and we always had rice. I'd be interested in trying it.
ReplyDeletewskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love Asian food! We order out at a local Chinese restaurant twice a month and look forward to it. I started asking for brown rice instead of white rice
DeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd add some toasted almonds to it.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Hi Libby! Yes, you can add toasted almonds and it goes well
DeleteI've never had this but give it a try! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy absolute favorite esp. during the summer is in tabbouleh! Since my hubby was a produce manager at a health food store when we were younger, I've had bulgur many ways, including with sauteed veggies, stews or kebabs. Nuts go great with it, as it's like a wheaty-rice with a nutty sort of taste on its own. lola777_22 at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI have never had bulgur but am definitely going to give your recipe a try this weekend! Homemade mac and cheese is probably my favorite side item, but that might be changing this weekend ;) Thank you for the opportunity to win one of your books! I have thoroughly enjoyed the series and the recipes! tracy.condie@gmail.com tracy(dot)condie(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have never tried it, but it does sound interesting. With the other ingredients it almost reminds me of rice-a-roni, but much healthier for you I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite side would have to be creamed spinach, I can't seem to get enough of it. Thank you for the chance.
lilyanngill56(at)Gmail(dot)com
I've never tried bulgur. It looks interesting. I love fried, or baked, potatoes and mac&cheese.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
barbiefan@comcast.net
I have never tried bulgur but your dish certainly looks yummy. During the summer months I love potato salad as a side dish. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have never had bulgur but your recipe sounds really good. We usually have mashed potatoes and broccoli for sides.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot coom
I use bulgar when I make tabbouleh, one of my favorite dishes. I will definitely have to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway. My email address is: janetbalas@mac.com
ReplyDeleteI've never tried bulgur but it sounds like something I should try soon! I like couscos or mashed potatoes as a side dish. Thanks!
ReplyDeletedigicats {at} sbcglobal {dot} net
I have never had it but I would be willing to try it. I enjoy macaroni and cheese as a side dish or broccoli and cheese. Thanks for your great generosity. Maycarlson6848@gmail.com Linda May
ReplyDelete