Bulgur Pilav - Healthy & Delicious Turkish Dish

Bulgur pilav (or bulgur pilaf, bulgur pilavi) is a delicious Turkish dish based on rich Mediterranean flavors like olive oil, tomato, peppers & fresh herbs. Made in under 30 minutes!

Often served in Turkish restaurants, bulgur pilaf can be recreated in your own kitchen using less than 10 ingredients (plus seasoning).

You might have seen different types of bulgur in your local supermarket and wondered how to use them in recipes. Well, if you're gonna try just one dish, let it be this one (OR my tabule salad!)

My bulgur pilav recipe is packed with flavour, SO easy & always a crowd-pleaser. It pairs well with my homemade couscous salad or fresh dinner rolls.

Jump to:

• 💌 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• 🍅 Ingredients
• ⏲️ Steps
• 💡 Tips
• 🌱 Substitutions
• ❓ FAQ
• 📦 Storage
• 🔥 Food safety
• 🍴Recipe

💌 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Super easy dish
• Total cooking time under 30 minutes
• Works as a main dish or side dish
• Naturally whole grain
• Delicious chewy texture
• Easy to store
• Uses cheap & basic ingredients
• Naturally vegan

Plus, I’ve prepared step-by-step images and pro tips to help you NAIL this bulgur pilav recipe the first time!

🍅 Ingredients

See recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

Ingredient Details

Bulgur - coarse bulgur wheat works best! Fine bulgur will produce a smoother, less chewy result.

Olive oil - a staple of Mediterranean cuisines. You can use other vegetable oils if preferred (like hemp, sunflower, or rapeseed).

Tomato paste - I used a concentrated tomato paste puree that usually comes in a squeezable tube.

Bell pepper - I used red, but you can use a mix of red, yellow & green peppers for an even more colorful plate.

Diced tomatoes - (from a can). Easier than having to dice your own fresh tomatoes and available all year round.

Veggie broth - I made mine simply by dissolving a cube of vegetable stock in boiling hot water.

Red onion - can be replaced with brown or white onion if preferred.

Parsley - other fresh herbs can be used instead (scroll down for substitutes).

You'll also need seasoning - salt & black pepper to paste, plus cumin.

⏲️ Steps

The cooking process for this bulgur pilav consists of SUPER easy steps.

1 - In a medium saucepan, heat up olive oil on medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté onions for 5 minutes.

2 - Add peppers and garlic. Fry on medium-high heat for further 2 minutes.

3 - Then add bulgur, seasoning, tomato paste, and chopped tomatoes. Stir well & fry for 2 minutes.

4 - Add hot broth. Bring to boil, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Once cooked, let it stand for 5 minutes. Then serve with fresh herbs & thinly sliced onion.

Hint: You might need to add an extra splash of water. Every pan/stove is unique so don't be afraid to taste the bulgur & add more liquid if it hasn't fully cooked.

💡 Tips

• Don't rinse the bulgur.
• There is no rule on how small or big to cut your vegetables. Different sizes are fine - just stick to what you like most.
• Once the mixture is boiling, bring it down to medium-low heat.
• Stir regularly to avoid a burnt layer at the bottom.
• If there is any excess liquid at the end, don't drain it. Simply let it stand for 5-10 more minutes. The bulgur will absorb any extra liquid.
• Serve with a dollop of (dairy-free) yogurt, feta cheese (I love the vegan alternative from Violife), or bread.
• Add a squeeze of fresh lemon when serving!

🌱 Substitutions

You might not have all the ingredients on hand. That's perfectly normal!

I encourage you to use whatever you have in the fridge & minimize food waste.

Below are my favorite ways to customize this bulgur pilav.

• Extra protein - add chickpeas, green beans, or lentils.
• Gluten-free - quinoa is a great way to substitute bulgur for a GF version.
• Spicy - add some chili flakes, and chili powder, or chop up a fresh chili for a kick of spiciness.
• Herbs - use dill, chives, or cilantro (coriander) instead of parsley.
• Other grains - while this will change the recipe a lot, you can technically use other grains like white rice, couscous, etc.
• Nuts - build on the nutty flavor of bulgur by adding toasted pine nuts. Sesame is another great option.

❓ FAQ

📦 Storage

First, let it cool down completely.

Then store it in an airtight container (like the ones in the picture above) in the fridge.

Stays good for 2-3 days.

These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.

🔥 Food safety

• Use a sturdy surface when cutting the ingredients.
• Wash the peppers well before cutting.
• Don't let the dish sit at room temperature for a long period of time.
• Never leave the stove unattended.

This wraps it up! If you enjoy Turkish cuisine I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Leaving a comment or review helps me run this blog & is greatly appreciated!

Got questions? Get in touch below!

🍴Recipe