Burghul pilaf with chickpeas recipe

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  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
  • Prep Time: 10 min(s)
  • Cook Time: 25 min(s)
  • Serves 4

Every week, Eddie Abd sits down with food blogger and writer Fouad Kassab to discuss Middle Eastern cuisine, including Turkish, Lebanese and Syrian foods. In the first segment, Fouad explains how to make a burghul pilaf with chickpeas.

A traditional Middle Eastern side dish, burghul can be cooked just as you would rice. Middle Easterners favour the absorption method and flavour the grain with salt, onions and garlic. Butter adds richness and the addition of chickpeas give the pilaf more body.

Fouad Kassab, author of the Middle Eastern-themed thefoodblog.com.au, shares this traditional recipe, which has variances all around the Middle East. Burghul was used as the main grain in Syria and Lebanon before rice become popular and affordable.

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, finely diced
3 tsp salt, or to taste
1/2 cup vermicelli noodles, broken to small segments
1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas
2 cups coarse burghul (bulgur)
5 cups water, room temperature

Preparation

Heat the butter and oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and salt, and cook until the onions are translucent.

Add the vermicelli and fry until golden brown. Add the chickpeas and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, followed by the burghul. Stir to coat burghul well with butter. Add water and bring to the boil, then simmer for 15-20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.

Serve with a stew or eat on its own with a few dollops of Greek yoghurt.

If you enjoyed this Burghul pilaf with chickpeas recipe then browse more Middle Eastern recipes, side dish recipes, vegetarian recipes, nut-free recipes, egg-free recipes, vegetarian recipes and our most popular hainanese chicken rice recipe.

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Comments (8)

   
03 Jan 2011 01:25 AEST
Frank Conway
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Mr Ambassador!
How interesting, in and of itself but also as the first thing I've ever learned about Lebanese life not having to do with sectarian strife or the bully to the south. As I was listening I could picture Lebanon in the same context I can picture life in my own country at the community level, where politics and so forth are just not the focus of peoples' lives. How fascinating. Thank you. And thanks to your guest for being so well prepared. Even if he does have an Aussie-French accent.
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29 Dec 2010 06:25 AEST
Cecile
Hornsby
Burghul
So good to have clear information for aspiring MEastern cooks.
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24 Dec 2010 08:55 AEST
Joe
New York
Awesome
It is really awesome to listen to how different cultures treated the same ingredients in different ways. I guess the Lebanese people have a very ancient history in the food industry. I seek Lebanese restaurants where ever I can find them.
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24 Dec 2010 08:36 AEST
Rami
New Hampshire, USA
All about burghul
Thank you for that wonderful bit of history. I grew up in Northern Lebanon; and a favorite recipe of mine is moujadara with burghul, served with a side dish of salad. I highly recommend it over moujadara with rice. I look forward to cooking with Burghul.
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21 Dec 2010 11:25 AEST
tasteofbeirut
US
appreciation
Very interesting talk. Bulgur or burghul can be used in so many ways, sweet or savory, that hundreds of uses can be obtained. I like to point out that fine or extra-fine bulgur is excellent to be mixed with meat or in tabbouleh salad. The coarse bulgur is tastier with legumes such as lentils or in pilafs, sweet or savory.
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20 Dec 2010 08:49 AEST
Colleen
Sydney
The rich history of burghul
I love the history of this, it is such a simple food but we just buy it in a pack and don't think twice. That it is such a staple for people now and in the past is incredibly interesting. I am going to try! to make kibbeh. Done the tabuleh so time to move on.
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20 Dec 2010 11:37 AEST
Roy
Melbourne
common item with a rich history
I loved the fact that Fouad discussed the uses of Burghul in the Middle Eastern culture as well its history. I come from a Lebanese background and I was never exposed to an in depth discussion of the processing and history of this very common item of the Lebanese cuisine. A very interesting interview! Will definitely give the recipe a try!
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20 Dec 2010 11:36 AEST
jac
St Kilda East
burghul
i miss some hot peppers in this recipe
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