Bulgur (from tr, bulgur, itself from fa, بلغور, bolġur (bolghur)/balġur (balghur), groats ), also riffoth (from biblical he, ריפות, riffoth) and burghul (from ar, برغل, burġul ), is a
cracked wheat
Wheat is a Poaceae, grass widely Agriculture, cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The Taxonomy of wheat, many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat ...
dish found in
West Asian cuisine.
Characteristics
Bulgur is sometimes confused with cracked wheat, which is crushed wheat grain that, unlike bulgur, has not been parboiled.
Bulgur is a common ingredient in
cuisine
A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
s of many countries of the
West Asian cuisine and
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and w ...
.
It has a light, nutty flavor.
Bulgur is recognized as a
whole grain by the
United States Department of Agriculture.
Composition and nutrition
Cooked bulgur is 78% water, 19%
carbohydrates, 3%
protein, and contains negligible
fat (table). A 100 gram (3.5 oz) reference serving supplies 83
calorie
The calorie is a unit of energy. For historical reasons, two main definitions of "calorie" are in wide use. The large calorie, food calorie, or kilogram calorie was originally defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of on ...
s, with no
micronutrient
Micronutrients are nutrient, essential dietary elements required by organisms in varying quantities throughout life to orchestrate a range of physiological functions to maintain health. Micronutrient requirements differ between organisms; for exam ...
s in appreciable amounts of the
Daily Value (table).
Culinary uses
Bulgur does not require cooking, although it can be included in cooked dishes; soaking in water is all that is needed.
Coarse bulgur is used to make
pottages, while the medium and fine grains are used for breakfast
cereals, salads such as
kısır,
pilavs, breads, and in dessert
pudding
Pudding is a type of food. It can be either a dessert or a savoury (salty or spicy) dish served as part of the main meal.
In the United States, ''pudding'' means a sweet, milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, ins ...
s such as ''
kheer''. Bulgur porridge is similar to
frumenty, a cracked wheat porridge that was a staple of
medieval cuisine.
In breads, it adds a whole-grain component. It is a main ingredient in
kibbeh and, soaked but not cooked, in
tabbouleh salad. It is often used where
rice or
couscous could be used. In Indian and Pakistani cuisine, bulgur is often used as a cereal to make a porridge with milk and sugar, or a savory porridge with vegetables and spices. It can be used to accompany other dishes in the same way as pasta or rice; it may be mistaken for rice because it has a similar appearance, although the texture is different.
The Kurdish word for groats is ''şile''.
Armenians prepare bulgur as a pilaf in chicken stock, with or without sautéed noodles, or cooked with tomatoes, onions, herbs and red pepper. The fine grind is used for making
eech, a bulgur salad similar to tabbouleh, prepared with tomato paste, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, olive oil, and other salad ingredients to personal taste. Pomegranate molasses, which is sour and sweet, is commonly used instead of lemon juice to add tartness. A variety of
mezes and main dishes are prepared.
In Cyprus, it is known as "πουρκούρι" (poorkoori) and is used to make "κούπες" (koopehs, also known as ''bulgur köftesi'' in Cypriot Turkish), a variety of kibbeh. Its crust is usually made of bulgur wheat, flour, oil, salt and egg, then filled with ground meat (beef and/or pork), onions, parsley and spices. There is also vegetarian "κούπες" which substitutes the ground meat with chopped mushrooms.
The Saudi Arabian version of bulgur, popular in
Nejd and
Al-Hasa Al-Ahsa or Al-Hasa may refer to:
* Al-Ahsa Governorate, a governorate in Saudi Arabia
* Al-Ahsa Oasis, an oasis region in eastern Saudi Arabia
* Hofuf, also known as Al-Ahsa, an urban center in the Al-Ahsa Oasis
* Al-Ahsa International Airport, Hof ...
, is known as ''jarish''.
See also
*
Einkorn wheat
*
Freekeh
*
Semolina
*
Wheatberry
References
{{Authority control
Arab cuisine
Mediterranean cuisine
Cypriot cuisine
Assyrian cuisine
Lebanese cuisine
Levantine cuisine
Jordanian cuisine
Syrian cuisine
Palestinian cuisine
Western Armenian cuisine
Wheat
Staple foods
Turkish words and phrases
Iranian cuisine
Israeli cuisine
Kurdish cuisine
Vegetarian dishes of India