Turkish Bulgur Pilaf aka 'Bulgur Pilav'

Yes, bulgur has been around for 4000 years, long before Türkiye or even the Ottoman Empire existed. It is said that it was first eaten in ancient Mesopotamia. The Anatolian civilisation, called the Hittites, likely used early forms of bulgur. Lots of other cultures (Romans, Persians and Byzantines) had access to cracked and boiled wheat variations in their regional cuisines.

And while the Ottomans did not ‘invent’ or first discover bulgur, they popularised dishes with it (like this dish, içli köfte and even kısır). Because the Ottoman Empire was pretty diverse (think: Balkans, Middle East & North Africa), these dishes all spread and adapted throughout those regions. I love food more than anything & learning about it and its history is so interesting to me. I want to share those findings with you, so if you read all the way here, thank you & I’m happy to have been able to share this little moment with you 🥰

Ingredients

✿ olive oil (you can also add or use butter)

✿ 1 onion

✿ 1 red bell pepper

✿ carrots (2-4)

✿ 1,5 tbsp tomato paste

✿ 1 tsp pepper paste

✿ 1.5 cups bulgur (washed)

✿ 1,5 tsp salt

✿ 2 tsp red chilli flakes (or more, depending on how spicy you like it)

✿ Hayfene 's Earth Spice Mix (sumac and aromatic herbs) -> this is optional.

✿ 3.5 cups warm water (or until it covers the bulgur)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent

2. Stir in the tomato paste, Turkish chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for a few minutes until the tomato paste becomes fragrant and slightly thickened

3. While the sauce is cooking, prepare the green beans: wash them, trim the ends, and cut into bite-sized pieces

4. Add the green beans to the pot and stir to coat them evenly in the tomato sauce

5. Pour in the tomato pulp and water, then cover the pot. Simmer on low heat until the beans are tender and the flavors come together, about 20–25 minutes

6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

And that’s it! If you think green beans are boring…think again! (I love a good green bean dish hahaha)