Burghul Wheat Salad

Istanbul

Posted by Hardie Grant

About

This sharp-tasting, orange-coloured wheat dish often appears as part of
a meze on restaurant tables across Istanbul. Every cook makes it differently,
depending on where in Turkey they come from: some add crisp
lettuce and chopped cucumber; others make it with dried mint or fresh dill.
Treat this is as the base recipe and experiment with different ingredients.
It’s not dissimilar to tabbouleh and is great as a side to cooked meats or as
a hearty salad. If you don’t have Turkish tomato paste or red pepper paste
you won’t get the bright colour, but don’t worry, just add extra fresh tomato
and perhaps half a finely diced red (bell) pepper.


serves 4

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You Will Need (11 things)

  • 250 g burghul (bulgur)? Wheat
  • 3 tbsp Turkish Tomato Paste
  • ½ Onion , very finely chopped?
  • 1 tbsp hot or mild red Pepper Paste
  • 1 small Spring Onion , very finely chopped (scallion)?
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate Molasses or the juice of 1/2 lemon?
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped Mint leaves
  • 1 large Tomato , deseeded and finely chopped?
  • 2 tbsp (finely chopped) flat-leaf Parsley
  • ?Pul biber or mild Chilli Flakes

Steps (1 step, 30 minutes)

  1. 1

    Cook or rehydrate the burghul wheat according to the packet instructions
and taste to check it is not still hard and grainy (I usually cover it with
boiling water and leave for 15–20 minutes, then fluff up with a fork).
When cool enough to handle, add the tomato paste, pepper paste and
onion and gently rub everything together with your hands until it is
thoroughly combined and an even red-orange colour. Add all the other
ingredients and mix thoroughly again. Taste and season, if necessary. Add
more olive oil, pomegranate molasses or lemon juice too, if you like. Chill
for 30 minutes before serving (if you have time).