Description
Hearty bulgur salad spotlights Mediterranean ingredients with roasted carrots, fresh mint, and sweet raisins. Balanced textures and zesty flavors create a satisfying side dish you’ll crave at any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 liter (4.22 cups) chicken broth
- 600 g (21.16 oz) bulgur
- 4 carrots
- 140 g (4.94 oz) raisins
- 100 g (3.53 oz) crushed and roasted hazelnuts
- 100 g (3.53 oz) pumpkin seeds
- 5 tbsps sunflower oil
- 1 bunch of mint
- juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Hydration: Combine bulgur and raisins in a large bowl, then pour hot chicken broth over the ingredients to fully submerge and soften them. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 25-30 minutes until bulgur becomes tender and plump.
- Vegetable Preparation: Grate carrots into fine shreds using a box grater or food processor, creating delicate ribbons that will integrate seamlessly into the salad.
- Texture Enhancement: Fold grated carrots into the softened bulgur mixture, incorporating roasted pumpkin seeds and chopped hazelnuts to introduce a complex, crunchy dimension.
- Flavor Balancing: Drizzle fresh lemon juice and sunflower oil over the salad, gently mixing to ensure even coating and harmonious flavor distribution. Chop mint leaves and sprinkle throughout, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Seasoning and Resting: Season with salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to a sealed container. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop a refreshing profile.
- Serving: Remove from refrigerator, give a final gentle stir to redistribute ingredients, and serve chilled, showcasing the salad’s vibrant textures and colors.
Notes
- Liquid Absorption Technique: Allow bulgur to fully soak in hot chicken broth for 25-30 minutes, creating perfectly tender grains with enhanced flavor depth.
- Carrot Grating Strategy: Use a box grater or food processor for uniform, delicate carrot shreds that integrate seamlessly into the salad’s texture.
- Flavor Melding Tip: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to harmonize and develop a more complex taste profile.
- Finishing Touch Technique: Stir the salad just before serving to redistribute ingredients and restore its vibrant, fresh appearance and even seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg