How to cook bulgur wheat

Bulgur wheat is a healthy whole grain that is a key component in many Middle Eastern dishes. The wheat grain is 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 and how to use it in your cooking. Read on to discover some of the most delicious (and easiest) HelloFresh bulgur wheat recipes you can make at home.

What is bulgur wheat?

Bulgur is sourced from cracked whole-grain wheat berries, which are partly cooked and then left to dry out. 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.

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How much bulgur wheat to serve per person

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.

Typically, each person requires around 1/4 cup of dried bulgur wheat. This means 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 you can easily end up preparing way too much.

Bulgur wheat cooking process

There are a few options for cooking bulgur 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. Alternatively, you can even soak bulgur wheat overnight, ready for an easy and tasty meal the next day. No matter which way you choose to cook bulgur wheat, it will have a delightfully subtle, nutty flavour that pairs perfectly with spices and various dressings.

What to serve with bulgur wheat

The versatility of bulgur wheat allows you to infuse it with a myriad of flavours 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 (like a classic bulgur wheat salad)
• Burgers

Bulgur wheat recipes

Bulgur wheat recipes involve a whole host of delicious ingredients and cuisines, although it is definitely most popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. Some examples of great recipes you can make with this cereal-based ingredient are (for the meat lovers out there) beef and bulgur bowl, and for those who prefer the creatures from the sea, honey and mint salmon with bulgur.