Bulgur, chard and pasta pilaf

Quick,  easy and rustic. Fry some chopped onion and when golden cook the chard a few minutes;  add the pasta then the bulgur and 15 minutes later, the dish is done.

Serve as a side dish with a roast chicken or some fish. Could also be used as a side with a  turkey or a ham for Christmas.

INGREDIENTS: 4 servings

  • 1 1/2 cups of medium-grade bulgur (#2)
  • 1 cup of vermicelli pasta (aka fideos), chopped up
  • 8 ounces of chard, stems removed and reserved and leaves chopped into fine ribbons
  • 1 large onion
  • olive oil, as needed
  • 1 tbsp of grape molasses (optional)
  • 1 tsp of cumin
  • 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1 or 2 garlic cloves, chopped and mashed with a dash of salt

METHOD:

  1. Chop the onion fine and heat some olive oil in a pot; add the onions and fry over low heat until golden. Add the vermicelli noodles, cut up in little sticks of about one inch in length. Fry the noodles in the olive oil till golden-brown (watch them carefully). Add the bulgur to the pot and fry for a minute until the grains are coated with oil.  Add the spices and the grape molasses (if using). Add 2 cups of water and a bouillon cube and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot and let the bulgur and pasta cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Uncover the pot, check to see if the grains are soft and chewy; if not, add a little water and continue the cooking for about 5 minutes. Serve.


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18 Comments

  1. Posted December 16, 2011 at 6:39 am | Permalink

    I am such a fan of bulgar wheat – this is great – esp with the grape molasses!

  2. Posted December 16, 2011 at 7:01 am | Permalink

    A delicious pilaf! A great combo.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  3. Posted December 16, 2011 at 9:21 am | Permalink

    Une jolie recette!!

  4. Posted December 16, 2011 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    A delicious pilaf. Love the addition of grape molasses.

  5. Posted December 16, 2011 at 11:53 am | Permalink

    Joumana, beautifully plated yet still a humble, simple and yummy dish…love bulgur and under-rated kale.

  6. Posted December 16, 2011 at 2:04 pm | Permalink

    Voilà un plat ” santé ” pour préparer les fêtes, bisous et passe un bon WE

  7. Posted December 16, 2011 at 4:08 pm | Permalink

    This is the second bulgur pilaf I’ve seen today. I love the kale in this version! Another great recipe.

  8. Posted December 16, 2011 at 5:06 pm | Permalink

    I never have enough recipes of easy, healthy and filling sides and this one fits the bill perfectly. I’ve also recently decided to buy my first grape molasses bottle, and any use for it is very welcome.

  9. Posted December 16, 2011 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    You have inspired me completely with this… I have beet greens tonight that I am using for this… can’t wait to try it… in about 1/2 an hour!

  10. Posted December 16, 2011 at 7:13 pm | Permalink

    You got me at “rustic.” I always go or the seemingly humble.

  11. Posted December 16, 2011 at 11:45 pm | Permalink

    An original pilaf Joumana, easy to make and delicious…have a good weekend…

  12. Posted December 17, 2011 at 5:56 am | Permalink

    First, I love chard and just don’t make it often enough. And this is just the kind of fast, healthy and warming meal we love. And with chard! I love it!

  13. Posted December 17, 2011 at 7:52 am | Permalink

    Yummy pilaf, so healthy and your presentation is fabulous!

  14. Posted December 18, 2011 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    Love pilaf and the variations of ingredients. Beautiful presentation :)

  15. Posted December 18, 2011 at 8:18 pm | Permalink

    This looks wondrful! My kind of meal… simple, healthy, hearty and tasty! I bet it even reheats well – I’m thinking I’ll double the recipe to have leftovers for lunch!

  16. Posted December 19, 2011 at 9:51 pm | Permalink

    The perfect side to any meat dish. Bulgur is my favorite go-to grain. It’s so versatile, easy and healthy, as you’ve shown here!

    We make it 2-3 times per week, with all kinds of things: nuts, dried fruit, herbs, greens, you name it :)

  17. Posted December 21, 2011 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    Love the versatility of this dish, and the photo is just gorgeous!

  18. Posted December 23, 2011 at 1:33 am | Permalink

    What a unique and beautiful pilaf! A favorite :)

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