Turkish kısır: a fresh bulgur salad with tomatoes, cucumber and herbs

Kısır is one of the most beloved salads of Turkish cuisine: a fresh salad made with fine bulgur (köftelik), popular well beyond Turkey — across the Middle East and the Balkans. It is usually served as a meze or a light summer dish, in the spirit of Turkish cooking, where simple preparations of grains, fresh vegetables, olive oil and lemon juice take center stage.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fine bulgur (köftelik)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 4–5 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon pepper paste (optional, for a spicy kick)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried mint (optional)

Preparation

1. Place the fine bulgur in a large bowl, pour the boiling water over it, cover and let it soak for 15–20 minutes.
2. Once the bulgur has absorbed the water, fluff it with a fork.
3. Add the tomato paste and pepper paste and mix well, until the bulgur turns a reddish color.
4. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions and chopped parsley; toss gently.
5. Pour in the olive oil and lemon juice, add the salt, pepper and mint; toss again.
6. Taste and adjust the salt or lemon to your liking.
7. Rest for 10 minutes in the refrigerator and serve chilled, with lettuce leaves if desired.

Preparation time: ~30 minutes. Servings: 4–6.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.