Bulgur Salad With Cucumbers Red Peppers Chick Peas Lemon Dill Food

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

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-AND-CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine bulgur with boiling water. Cover and let stand 20 minutes; drain and return to bowl. Rinse and drain chickpeas, then add to bowl with lemon zest and juice, olive oil, dill, and feta; season with salt and pepper.

BULGUR WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS, CHICKPEAS, AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to a boil and add bulgur. Remove from heat and soak until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to remove as much liquid as possible; transfer bulgur to a large bowl.
• While bulgur is soaking, roast peppers over a low gas flame or under the broiler, turning frequently with tongs, until blackened on all sides, 8 to 16 minutes. Place in a bowl; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let cool. Peel off charred skins; discard seeds and stems. Chop peppers into 3/4-inch pieces. Strain any juices from cutting board and bowl through a fine-mesh sieve and reserve.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup oil over medium-high. In batches, fry chickpeas until golden brown and lightly crisp, about 3 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels and season immediately with coarse salt.
• Add chickpeas, peppers and reserved juices, spinach, and 2 tablespoons oil to bowl with bulgur and toss. Season with salt and ground pepper.

EASY BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, pour 1 cup boiling water over the bulgur. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
• Add cucumber, onion, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to combine. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature. (To chill, cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 day.)