Bulgur pilaf is one of my favorite “throw-together” recipes. After chopping the veggies, you add everything to a pot. It’s a very easy dish, which makes it that much better! This naturally vegan meal is best served warm and topped with parsley, red onions, and olives (as you see here). It’s also great with feta!
what you’ll need
The ingredients for this dish are nothing crazy and consist of what you’d expect – veggies, bulgur, and spices! After you cook this meal, feel free to get creative with your toppings. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements, this is just an overview! The Lebanese call it sayeti and typically makes it with a tomato base. This bulgur pilaf is closer to the Lebanese version, with a taste and feel similar to Spanish rice!
Olive Oil: Sauté the vegetables using olive oil. You can also use butter. White Onion: This recipe calls for one cup of chopped white onion (equal to about one medium-sized onion). Garlic: Garlic will add flavor and zest to this recipe. We’ll be using 2 cloves of minced garlic. Green Bell Pepper: Bell peppers add a great soft crunch to this meal. Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes and tomato paste are the base of this recipe. Uncooked Bulgur: This dish uses uncooked bulgur as the bulk of its ingredients. It’s cooked in just water. Salt and Pepper: Add salt and pepper to taste, starting with about ¼ tsp of each. Serving Options: Finally, olives, sliced red onion, parsley, slivered almonds, and feta cheese all work well to top this dish!
How to make bulgur pilaf
Bulgur pilaf is a simple dish that’s ready in about three basic steps. This recipe only requires about 25 minutes to create (jump to the recipe card for the full printable instructions).
Pilaf variation options
Here are some ideas for switching up your bulgur pilaf. There’s really no messing up this recipe, so experiment with it and add your favorite flavors!
Add vegetables: The more veggies, the better! You can add broccoli, red and yellow bell peppers, corn, cherry tomatoes, and even black beans! Switch the grain: In place of bulgur, you can use rice, couscous, cracked wheat, quinoa, or freekeh. Use broth: To add extra flavor, you can use broth as the liquid in place of water. A nice veggie broth should do the trick!
Mediterranean dishes that pair well with pilaf
Looking for some sides to eat along with bulgur pilaf? These Mediterranean recipes are perfect!
Tzatziki Cucumber Salad: Served on the side of this bulgur pilaf, it’s a refreshing side dish. Greek Salad Sushi: This is a fun way to enjoy a new flavor of vegetarian sushi. Greek Baked Feta: This dish can be tossed in the oven to bake while you make the bulgur pilaf.
