How to cook bulgur wheat

Bulgur wheat is a healthy whole grain, that is a key component in many middle eastern dishes, adored for its flavour and ease of cooking.

If you’ve never cooked with bulgur wheat before, here’s everything you need to know about preparing it, how to use it in your cooking and some of the most delicious (and easiest) HelloFresh bulgur wheat recipes you can make at home.

Cooking bulgur wheat

After sourcing your dried whole grain wheat berries, weigh out how much you will need for the dish you’re making, then bring a pot of water to boil.

How much bulgur wheat to serve per person

Typically, each person requires around 1/4 cup of dried bulgur wheat. This means that 1 cup will be enough to feed a family of four. It’s good to have an idea of how much bulgur wheat is necessary per person, as it’s easy to prepare too much.

Bulgur wheat cooking process

There are a few different options for cooking bulgure wheat. The best way is to soak the grains in boiling water for 10 minutes. Make sure to fluff up your bulgur wheat with a fork to give it a delicious texture before eating.

You can also boil bulgur wheat, in the same way as pasta. Or even soak bulgur wheat overnight, ready for an easy and tasty meal the next day. No matter which way you choose to cook your bulgur wheat, it will have a delightfully subtle, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with spices and an array of dressings.

Bulgur wheat benefits

According to recipe development manager at HelloFresh, Mimi Morley:

“One of the main reasons so many people love bulgur wheat is because it has so many health and nutrition benefits. The wholegrain contains a number of vitamins to ensure the overall functioning of the body, plus it’s a light carb that pairs perfectly with lean protein and salad.”

What to serve with bulgur wheat

The versatility of bulgur wheat allows you to infuse it with a myriad of flavors and serve it with various dishes and cuisines. It is commonly used as a rice alternative, so it complements many meat and vegetable main dishes.

Since bulgur wheat derives from middle eastern cultures, there are plenty of middle eastern inspired recipes paired with meat. It is also great as an addition to wholesome salads, a hearty side to a curry or even as part of a quick evening stir fry.

You can serve bulgur wheat with:

• Meat and vegetable curries
• Stir-fries
• Roast meat and vegetables
• Salads
• Burgers

Bulgur wheat recipes

Bulgur wheat recipes involve a whole host of delicious ingredients and cuisines. Take a look at some of the most popular:

• Sweet & Sour Style Chicken with Red Pepper and Bulgur Wheat
• Prawn and Chickpea Bulgur Salad with Zhoug
• Moroccan Lamb Salad
• Spiced Diced Chicken Breast and Pepper Bulgur
• Ras el Hanout Roasted Root Veg and Aubergine

What is bulgur wheat?

Bulgur is sourced from cracked whole grain wheat berries, which are partly cooked and then left to dry out. In order to consume these berries as bulgur wheat, they simply need to be rehydrated. This makes bulgur a very quick and easy ingredient to work with.

HelloFresh has recipes to suit any household, no matter how extensive your culinary skills are in the kitchen. Browse the selection of recipes for some inspiration.