This zesty and flavorful Mediterranean Bulgur Salad is made with bulgur wheat, garlic, tomatoes, lemon and lots of fresh parsley.
On our recent trip to Greece, Alex and I ate a similar bulgur salad. There was a stunning sunset over the Mediterranean Sea and we had just ordered a list of small plates so big the waiter looked at us like we were crazy. With my husband and sister on my right and my childhood best friend and her fiancé on my left, it was like one of those daydreams where all your favorite people who live on different continents come together in one beautiful island destination. . It’s a distant memory now (sigh!), but we still have that bulgur salad. Read on for the recipe!
What is bulgur
Bulgur is a whole grain of wheat that has been cracked and partially pre-cooked. Not only does it have a delicious chewy texture, nutty flavor and high nutritional content, it also cooks quickly. Just boil water in a teapot and then let the bulgur soak: no oven required! This is our way of cooking! You should be able to find this whole grain in most supermarkets. To learn more about the different types of bulgur go to How to Cook Bulgur.
Do you have an instant pot? You can cook bulgur wheat in a pressure cooker: check out our Instant Pot bulgur wheat recipe.
How to make bulgur salad
The bulgur salad we had in Greece was prepared a little differently and was called “pligouri” salad (meaning wheat bulgur), but this interpretation is close. It is also very similar to tabbouleh, although tabbouleh actually originated further east in the Mediterranean. It’s full of tangy lemon and lively herbed parsley. In fact, you will use 2 full cups of chopped parsley: that’s a lot!
This is a fabulous summer bulgur salad because it’s easy to make and deliciously light and herbaceous. We love that the bulgur makes this dish a no-cook grain salad: just pour boiling water over the bulgur and set aside. It seems magical every time we do it! This Mediterranean Bulgur Salad and our Greek Salad are perfect options for a summer picnic or BBQ.
Have more parsley to use? Try more of our best parsley recipes.
Looking for easy Greek recipes?
Aside from this Mediterranean Bulgur Salad, here are some of our favorite easy Greek recipes:
This recipe is…
This recipe is vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free tortillas.
The description
This zesty and flavorful Mediterranean Bulgur Salad is made with bulgur wheat, garlic, tomatoes, lemon and lots of fresh parsley.
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups fine or medium ground bulgur wheat*
- 4 medium-sized tomatoes (enough for 2 finely diced)
- 3 Green Onions
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 cups finely chopped fresh parsley (A big pile)
- ¼ cup chopped mint
- 2 Lemons
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- Ground fresh pepper
- Add 1 teaspoon Kosher salt to 1 ½ cups water and bring to a boil. Place the bulgur in a bowl and pour boiling salted water over it. Cover and let stand until tender: about 7 minutes for a fine grind and 15 minutes for a medium grind.
- In the meantime, cut the tomatoes into small cubes and remove the core and seeds. Thinly slice the spring onions and chop the garlic. Chop the fresh parsley and fresh mint. Grate 1 lemon.
- When the bulgur is done, fluff it up with a fork. Add tomatoes, green onions, garlic, parsley, mint, lemon zest, olive oil, lemon juice, a few pinches of kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Stir gently to combine. Serve with additional lemon wedges.
Remarks
*Avoid coarse or extra coarse bulgur as cooking instructions differ. Learn more about bulgur varieties.
- Category: salad
- Method: Raw
- Kitchen: Mediterranean Sea
Keywords: Mediterranean Bulgur Salad, Bulgur Salad, Summer Salad, Salad Recipes, Bulgur Wheat, Tomato Salad, Parsley Recipes
