Our Best Bulgur Recipes

Bulgur with Tangy Artichokes
Photo: © Tina Rupp

From a new take on traditional tabbouleh to warm salads with roasted veggies, here are incredible bulgur recipes.

01 of 08

Bulgur-Pomegranate Salad

Bulgur-Pomegranate Salad
© Fredrika Stjärne

This is Athena Calderone's take on tabbouleh, the parsley-heavy Middle Eastern bulgur salad. She's added tangy, juicy pomegranate seeds; pleasantly bitter endive; and pistachios to dress it up. Be sure to let the bulgur cool — it'll make the grain nice and fluffy.

02 of 08

Chicken and Bulgur Salad with Corn

Chicken and Bulgur Salad with Corn
© Todd Porter & Diane Cu

Bulgur makes a hearty base for a salad. Here, it's tossed with corn kernels, tomato, red onion, and a bit of hot pepper, dressed with lime vinaigrette, and then topped with slices of sautéed chicken breast for an ideal summer meal.

03 of 08

Spicy Grain Soup

Spicy Grain Soup
© Frances Janisch

Based on a brothy tortilla soup, this fiery, substantial soup is full of nutty-tasting barley, brown rice, and bulgur, creating a dish that's high in fiber.

04 of 08

Bulgur Salad with Lightly Roasted Vegetables

Bulgur Salad with Lightly Roasted Vegetables
© Marie Hennechart

"I love to make this salad with my son," says Mehmet Gürs. "It's so easy and it can get quite messy, which is fun for a 4-year-old." The cracked-wheat salad contains diced, just-tender roasted carrot, red onion, bell pepper, and little pieces of cucumber. Gürs also stirs in tomato paste, which adds richness and sweetness.

05 of 08

Turkey Kibbe Kebabs with Two Sauces

Turkey Kibbe Kebabs with Two Sauces
© James Baigrie

Paula Wolfert learned this unusual dish from Burhan Cagda, the kebab master of Gaziantep, Turkey. Bulgur mixed in with the ground meat makes the kebabs light and tender. The two sauces — one tangy, herbal, and nutty and the other creamy and garlicky — play off the smoky kebabs and each other.

06 of 08

Bulgur with Tangy Artichokes

Bulgur with Tangy Artichokes
© Tina Rupp

Shawn McClain sautés fresh artichokes before mixing them with bulgur. He simmers asparagus in a shallow pan of water in the oven with lemon juice, sugar, and salt for 15 minutes. To make it easier, we use delicious, tangy jarred artichokes in the salad and steam the asparagus for just 5 minutes.

07 of 08

Eggplant, Lentil, and Bulgur Salad

Eggplant, Lentil, and Bulgur Salad
© Susan Spungen

It's two salads in one — a hearty, spicy mixture of lentils and eggplant and a crisp, cool combination of cucumber and tomato. Each is fine by itself, but they're even better when served together.

08 of 08

Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad

Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad
© Maura McEvoy

This lovely side dish of light, fluffy bulgur studded with bits of toasted almonds and crisp green beans is a wonderful alternative to rice.

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