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–+ servings
A plate of Turkish bulgur pilaf with red and green peppers, garnished with parsley, served in a white scalloped dish with a fork.
5 from 4 votes

Bulgur Pilavi (Bulgur Pilaf)

By Zerrin & Yusuf
A simple and comforting Turkish side dish made with bulgur, tomatoes, peppers, and spices. Easy to prepare and perfect with almost any meal.
Yields: 4
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PREP 5 minutes
COOK 15 minutes
Resting Time 15 minutes
TOTAL 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS
 
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion medium, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic finely diced
  • 1 green pepper finely diced
  • 1 red pepper finely diced
  • 1 cup bulgur extra coarse
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried mint
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tomatoes medium, diced
  • 1½ cups hot water

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the chopped onion until soft.
  • Stir in the tomato paste, then add diced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add diced peppers and cook until they start to soften.
  • Add the bulgur and spices. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 2–3 minutes until softened.
  • Carefully pour in the hot water. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to the lowest, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
  • Remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for at least 15 minutes before serving.

NOTES

  1. Do not cook the bulgur over high heat. 
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting. Remember to keep your lid on the pot to prevent moisture from evaporating.
  3. You cannot use fine bulgur for this pilaf recipe. Pilaf has to have some texture otherwise it turns out more like couscous. Medium, coarse or very coarse bulgur will work best and give a nice mouth-feel.
  4. Allowing your bulgur to rest before serving it is another essential step, especially for coarse and very coarse bulgur. This allows the grains to continue cooking without losing additional moisture.

NUTRITION

Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 627mgPotassium: 508mgFiber: 9gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1880IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Turkish
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