Turkish Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomatoes And Cucumbers Food

TABOULI SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash the bulgur wheat and soak it in water for 5-7 minute. Drain very well (squeeze the bulgur wheat by hand to get rid of any excess water). Set aside.
• Very finely chop the vegetables, herbs and green onions as indicated above. Be sure to place the tomatoes in a colander to drain excess juice.
• Place the chopped vegetables, herbs and green onions in a mixing bowl or dish. Add the bulgur and season with salt. Mix gently.
• Now add the the lime juice and olive oil and mix again.
• For best results, cover the tabouli and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. If you like, serve the tabouli with a side of pita and romaine lettuce leaves, which act as wraps or "boats" for the tabouli.
• Other appetizers to serve next to tabouli salad:Hummus; Baba Ganoush; or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

TURKISH BULGUR WHEAT SALAD WITH TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Prepare bulgur wheat by placing grains in a large heat proof bowl. Boil the 3 cups of water, pour it over the grains, cover and wait about 20 minutes. All the water will be absorbed.
• While you're waiting, mix all the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Chop all the veggies - set aside. Toast the almonds (350F, 3 min) - set aside.
• Combine cooked bulgur, chickpeas, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, carrot greens or parsley, scallions, and mint in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Add dressing + pepper, toss again.
• Top with toasted almonds and optional feta.

KISIR (SPICY TURKISH BULGUR WHEAT SALAD)

Steps:

• Mix the tomato paste, hot pepper paste (if using) and boiling water until completely mixed. Stir in the bulgur. Set aside until the bulgur has softened and cooled a little, 10-20 minutes.
• Mix the bulgur with the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

KISIR

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium sized saucepan and sauté the onion to just take off the raw edge. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 secs or so. Add the cumin and chillies and cook for another 1 min. Stir in the tomato purée and 175ml boiling water. Add the bulgur, season, stir everything together, remove from the heat, cover and leave to sit for about 15 mins. The water should have been absorbed.
• Fork the grains to separate and aerate them, then add the tomatoes, walnuts, pomegranate seeds and herbs and fork them through. Mix the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and pomegranate molasses in a small bowl. Add three quarters of this, then taste to see if it needs any more (if it seems well flavoured and moist enough, then leave it).
• The kisir can sit at room temperature for a few hours, or covered in the fridge - but let it come to room temperature before serving.

BULGUR WHEAT SALAD WITH TOMATO AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Using a large bowl (this will eventually hold the finished salad), measure out one cup bulgur.
• Add boiling water, stir, and let bulgur soak until all water is absorbed. This can take anywhere from 40 to 80 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put lemon zest in a small bowl. Add lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Whisk together.
• Once bulgur has absobed all water, stir in dressing.
• Add chopped parsley and mint, green onions, cucumbers and tomatoes and stir.
• Season with salt and pepper and enjoy at room temperature.

KISIR (TURKISH BULGUR WHEAT SALAD)

Steps:

• Mix bulgur and water and set aside for 30 minutes, until all of the water is absorbed. (There is a special kind of bulghur used in Turkish Kisir, but any bulgur or cracked wheat that can be prepared in this way will work).
• Add remaining ingredients, adding the red pepper paste last. (Trader Joe's makes Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic, which works pretty well. The Turkish spread is called Ajvar (Ayvar/Hayvar/Havyar), and it is much more spicy).
• Refrigerate and serve cold.

BULGUR SALAD WITH CUCUMBER AND TOMATO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the bulgur, the salt, and 3/4 cup water and simmer the mixture, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Transfer the bulgur to a bowl, let it cool for 10 minutes, and stir in the lemon juice, the oil, the parsley, the cucumber, the tomatoes, the scallion, and salt and pepper to taste.

BULGUR WHEAT SALAD - TURKISH STYLE

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together and let it marinate for at least a half hour in the fridge then serve.
• When pomegranates are in season, I substitute the grape, makes for eye catching colour.