Wondering how to cook bulgur? Quick and easy to cook, this ancient whole grain is perfect for salads, cereal bowls and as a simple side dish.
Do you want to eat more whole grains? Well, look no further than bulgur! It’s one of Alex’s cereals and one of my favorites to cook because hey, there really is no cooking at all! With this grit you can a Soaking method: Just boil some water and then pour it over the grains in a bowl. Then wait for the grain to cook by itself! It fills up in no time and is easy to incorporate into salads, cereal bowls and a healthy side dish. Alex and I have been cooking it for years and we wanted to share our easy way to cook bulgur!
Firstly, where can I buy bulgur?
Bulgur is a whole grain made from ground wheat. It has its origins in Middle Eastern cuisine. Have you ever eaten tabbouleh in a Greek, Israeli or Lebanese restaurant? Yes, it’s bulgur! Where to buy bulgur Today, many traditional grocery stores carry bulgur, especially in bulk containers. You can also buy it online.
Buy it: bulgur
Are there different types of bulgur?
Yes, and it affects cooking time, so listen up! Bulgur is available in different degrees of grinding:
- Fine grind (#1): Cures in 7 minutes
- Medium grind (#2): Cures in 15 minutes
- Coarse grind (#3): Cooks on stovetop in 20 minutes (cannot soak)
- Extra Coarse Grind (#4): Cooks on stovetop in 25 minutes (cannot soak)
As you can see, the fine and medium grinds work with the steep method. However, coarse and extra-coarse grinds can only be prepared on the stove. These varieties are harder to find; You’re more likely to come across fine and medium grinds in stores or online.
What if the bulgur pack isn’t labelled? Several major brands of bulgur wheat do not label grind size. (No names, but we’d like to hear from a specific whole grain company to clarify!) If the packaging isn’t labeled, it’s likely medium-grain bulgur. You’ll have to experiment with the cooking time and make sure the grains are soft: adjust if necessary.
Is bulgur gluten free?
Since bulgur is made from wheat (yes, it’s bulgur Wheat), It is not gluten free. If you are gluten intolerant, you should definitely avoid bulgur. What is a Gluten Free Substitute for Bulgur? Use one of the following:
How to Cook Bulgur (Basic Steps)
So there is not much to cook bulgur! As mentioned above, use the soaking method, where you simply heat water and then pour it over the beans. The most important thing you need to know is how much water to use: and it’s actually super easy.
What is the ratio of bulgur to water? 1:1, i.e. 1 cup of bulgur to 1 cup of water.
OK, this literally couldn’t be easier, right? Here are the basic steps for cooking bulgur (see full recipe below):
- Boil water in a teapot.
- Place the bulgur in a bowl and pour the water over it.
- Allow 7 minutes for finely ground bulgur or 15 minutes for medium ground bulgur.
As it sits, the granules will absorb all of the water and the granules will grow large and tender. That’s it! It’s a great candidate for eating large amounts throughout the week.
Or do you have an instant pot? You can also make bulgur in a pressure cooker: check out our Instant Pot Bulgur Wheat recipe.
How to cook bulgur in an instant pot
Do you have an instant pot? You can also make a ton of Instant Pot Bulgur! It’s just as easy and a completely self-contained method. Just set it up and get the rest of your meal ready!
Here are the basic steps to making Instant Pot Bulgur Wheat (see recipe for more):
- Place the bulgur, water, garlic powder, oregano, and salt in the Instant Pot.
- Pressure cook at low temperature for 12 minutes (medium shaping) or 7 minutes (fine shaping).
- Fast release! Open the Instant Pot and fluff the bulgur with a fork.
The best ways to eat bulgur
Now, if you have a big pot of bulgur, how do you serve it? We have lots of ideas: you can use them in salads, cereal bowls, soups and more! Here are our top ideas:
The description
Wondering how to cook bulgur? Quick and easy to cook, this ancient whole grain is perfect for salads, cereal bowls and as a simple side dish.
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup fine or medium ground bulgur wheat*
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Optional: ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp dried oregano
- Boil the water (we use our kettle).
- Place the bulgur in a heatproof bowl and stir in the kosher salt and boiling water. (Optional: Flavor it by adding ½ tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp dried oregano.)
- Cover and let stand until tender: about 7 minutes for a fine grind and 15 minutes for a medium grind.
Remarks
*Coarse or extra coarse bulgur has different cooking instructions. In a saucepan with 2 ¼ cups of water, add 1 cup of coarse or extra coarse bulgur. Bring the water to a boil, stir and cover. Depending on the type of bulgur, cook until soft, about 15 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour off excess water.
- Category: full grain
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Mediterranean Sea
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: How to cook bulgur How to cook bulgur
