De Ma Cuisine

bulgur wheat Archive

Monday

20

April 2015

1

COMMENTS

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Nuts, Potlucks, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Rice, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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It’s spring. But, here in L.A. it seems like the weather’s not sure what it wants to do. One week it feels like summer, the next, we’re back to our winter weather.

But, this salad can be eaten rain or shine.

It’s a simple one. And it goes kinda like this…

You start with a grain: Quinoa, brown rice, bulgur wheat, wild rice, or couscous.

You choose your veggies (any or all): Beets, carrots, greens, tomatoes (ok, technically a fruit), or summer squash.

Then you choose your add ins: Walnuts, almonds, raisins, apples, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.

Fresh herbs are added: Parsley, basil, or thyme.

And you’re ready to eat!

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Since we get beets year round here, we can eat this hearty salad whenever we want. I had golden beets on hand, but red beets would work well too.

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I love the feeling of sunshine that golden beets bring to my kitchen. They’re such a happy root veggie.

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Veggies are cooked in a skillet – easy! Beets are a pretty dense root veggie, so be sure to give them enough time to cook (20 minutes or so seemed to do the trick for me).

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I love raw walnuts, so they were a perfect choice. Some raisins and apples added a bit of sweetness to the already sweet beets and carrots. Sweet, but not too.

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For my grain, I chose quinoa. Packed with protein, it seemed like a great fit for a vegan dish.

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Some quality olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon brighten and round out the dish.

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The finished product is a warm salad. The beets warm the add ins slightly, while the add ins cool the cooked veggies. You could also refrigerate and eat it a few hours later.

Quick and easy to prepare, packed with nutrients and protein, this one was a hit at our house. Even Tim, who isn’t crazy about beets, thought it was really good.

Happy Eating!

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 3-4

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 C water or vegetable stock
  • 1/2 C uncooked quinoa (rinsed) (or couscous, wild rice, bulgur wheat, or brown rice with appropriate amount of water)
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 C golden beets (red beets would work great too), peeled and chopped
  • 1 C carrots (or summer squash), chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 3 C greens (like spinach, chard, or kale), chopped
  • sprinkle cayenne
  • 1 t fresh parsley, chopped (divided)
  • 1 t fresh basil, chopped (divided)
  • 2 T raisins, chopped
  • 1/4 C apple, chopped
  • 1 C walnuts, chopped
  • 1/2 C pumpkin seeds (optional)
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring the water to a boil. Add the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, or until done. (If using other grains, cook according to package's instructions.)
  2. Heat a skillet over medium-low. Add olive oil. When the oil is hot add the beets through pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes (or until veggies are tender), adding greens after about 10-15 minutes (depending on type of greens - more tender greens will require less time to cook).
  3. Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in half of the herbs (reserving the rest for topping), and then raisins through lemon juice, and cooked quinoa. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold, with a lemon wedge for squeezing over.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/warm-beet-and-walnut-salad/

Monday

26

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Grains, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Rice, Sausage, Vegetables

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I am a big fan of quick weeknight dinners. I’m all for slow-cooked, braised, take the whole afternoon to cook kinda meals. But, most weekdays I’m tired, there are dirty dishes in the sink, and I just want to eat something. Now.

This dish kinda has it all. It’s simple, but satisfying. Especially if you have some crusty bread with butter to go alongside. We did not, but maybe if I plan ahead for eating the leftovers we will. 😉

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Bulgur wheat is one of my go-tos. It’s similar tasting to brown rice, but cooks quicker. Also, bulgur is a fun word to say. The dog is staring at my while I repeat it to myself right now.

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I made this over the summer for the first time. I used zucchini. Since it’s winter and I had a bunch of carrots in my garden, that’s what I used this time. They went nicely with the apple-sausage combination I had going on. I think butternut squash or sweet potatoes would also taste great, if that’s what you have on hand.

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While the bulgur cooks, the rest of the meal comes together. It’s a really quick and easy dinner to prepare. A little chopping, two pots, and you’re ready to go.

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I added a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt and a splash of whole milk for creaminess. And the first time I made it, I added some parmesan cheese. I didn’t have any this time, but if I did, I’d definitely add it, so I left it in the recipe.

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We will probably have the leftovers for dinner tonight, even though I haven’t figured out the bread situation.

Happy Eating!

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 3 or so.

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Ingredients

  • 1 C bulgur wheat (I used coarse) (could use brown rice or quinoa to make it gluten-free - adjust cooking time accordingly)
  • 2 C water
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 C carrots* (or zucchini in the summer), chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 2 C apple, chopped
  • 2 fully cooked sausage links (I used Argentine inspired), removed from casing (could substitute lentils to make it vegetarian)
  • 2-3 T Greek or plain yogurt
  • splash whole milk (any kind you like - cow, almond, coconut...)
  • 1/2 C parmesan, grated (optional)
  • lemon wedges, for serving
  • *butternut squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, corn, cabbage, onion, celery, leeks, spinach, or tomatoes would also be yummy additions. Cooking time may vary depending on the type of veggies used.

Instructions

  1. Bring the bulgur and water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Reduce to a simmer and cook partially covered for about 15-20 min or so (or until tender).
  2. Heat a pan, add the olive oil, and when it's hot, add the carrots, some salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the apple and cook for about 5 minutes more. Add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the sausage is heated through.
  3. Stir in the yogurt, milk, and parmesan. Cook for 1-2 minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/bulgur-wheat-with-sausage-and-apples/

Monday

15

December 2014

0

COMMENTS

Cabbage Rolls with Bulgur Wheat and Italian Sausage

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Sausage, Vegetables

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I had my menu all planned for this week, but I caught a cold and the fridge is full of leftovers from two Christmas events from this past weekend, plus there’s an enormous cabbage that’s taking up the space that this week’s box is going to need, like right now. So, I pushed today’s meal to tomorrow, and used up as much of the cabbage as I could.

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This is a take on cabbage rolls. I definitely love the more traditional cabbage rolls with rice and ground beef, smothered in tomato sauce. But, I had sausage and bulgur wheat on hand, so that’s what I used.

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I had an Italian herb blend that I made up during the summer. It’s amazing what a little bit of work ahead of time can do to save time in the now. I use those herbs a lot. So much so that they’re almost ready to be replenished. I also used the last of the tomato sauce from this summer. It served us well.

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After the onion, sausage, tomato, and herbs hang out in the skillet for a while, they’re ready to be wrapped in cabbage. To make the cabbage leaves easier to peel off, I cut out the core.

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Some like to par-cook (partially cook) the cabbage so they’re softer and easier to work with. I didn’t. I set them in hot water for a minute or so, which softened them a bit, but let them still stay kinda crisp. Tim and I liked the end result. I asked him if he wished they were softer and he did not. If you prefer them softer, just boil them for a minute or more (depending on how soft you’d like them to be) before filling them.

Or, if you want a super quick meal, serve these in the raw cabbage like you would lettuce wraps. Mmmm lettuce wraps…

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That tomato sauce that I mentioned, perfect with cabbage and sausage. I wish I had a crusty piece of bread to soak up all that was left in the pan.

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Other variations that might be good: Ground chicken or turkey with grated carrots and chopped tomatoes. Ground beef and cooked spaghetti squash with tomatoes. Or, for a vegan version, substitute the ground meat for tempeh.

I used a regular green cabbage, but you could try napa cabbage, swiss chard, or collard greens too.

We have leftovers and not much room in the fridge. I may chop it all up, add some stock, and make it into soup for dinner tomorrow night!

Happy Eating!

Cabbage Rolls with Bulgur Wheat and Italian Sausage

Cabbage Rolls with Bulgur Wheat and Italian Sausage

Ingredients

  • 2 C cold or room temperature water
  • 1 C uncooked coarse bulgur wheat
  • 2 T olive oil, divided
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 Italian sausage links (the fully cooked kind), removed from their casings
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 T dried Italian herbs (basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, and rosemary)
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 6-8 large green cabbage leaves (or napa cabbage, swiss chard, or collard greens)
  • 2 1/2 - 3 C tomato sauce (see post for link to recipe)

Instructions

  1. Bring the water and bulgur to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 7-8 minutes, or until to desired tenderness.
  2. While bulgur cooks, heat a skillet, add 1 T olive oil. When oil is hot add onion and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sausage through pepper and cook for 5 minutes more (or if using not fully cooked sausage, cook until sausage is done). Add bulgur and stir to combine and remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  3. Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9x13 oven-proof dish with remaining oil.
  4. Submerge cabbage leaves in hot water for a minute or two (or par-boil until they reach desired tenderness). Remove from water and set on the countertop.
  5. Divide filling between leaves. Roll up, tucking ends in if possible. Secure ends with a toothpick and place seam side down. Pour tomato sauce over rolls. Bake for 20-30 minutes.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/cabbage-rolls-with-bulgur-wheat-and-italian-sausage/

Friday

4

October 2013

4

COMMENTS

For a Simple Supper – Argentine Sausage with Zucchini and Bulgur Wheat

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Grains, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Thoughts, Vegetables

ArgentineSausageBulgurWheatI really love to menu plan. But that doesn’t mean that things always go the way I have intended. Sometimes it means grilled cheese or some sort of re-heated leftovers from the freezer. But, occasionally inspiration hits and a new meal is concocted.

This is such a meal.

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We tried this Argentine sausage a while ago. I absolutely love it. It may be my new favorite. I don’t know why I had never tried it before. I didn’t know what I was missing. Now I do. We had a lot of zucchini in the fridge. It needed to be eaten. Perfect, because I wanted to eat it. And then we had bulgur wheat in the pantry. I bought it aaaaaages ago, thinking I would do something with it and never did. I was going to use rice in this meal, but why not switch it up?!

It comes together in a snap. Yeah, the bulgur wheat takes a while to cook, just like rice. But it’s not really that long. Pop it on the stove and then work on the rest. They’ll probably be done closer to the same time than you may have expected.

If you have other veggies that you want to use, I think that’s a good idea. If you have Italian sausage instead of Argentine, please use it! The basics of this dish are that it’s a grain, with some veggies, nuts, a bit of cheese, some fresh herbs, and some excellent olive oil.

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If you don’t have something in this recipe on hand – here are some other ideas that could work well:
Italian sausage, red pepper flakes, chopped rosemary, lemon zest, broccoli, and bulgur wheat or rice.
German sausage, onions, dijon mustard, parsley, dill, and bulgur wheat or rice.
Italian sausage, kale, onions, bell peppers, red pepper flakes, thyme, bulgur wheat or rice, with a drizzle of cream when you serve.
So many ways you could transform this simple dish.

Argentine Sausage with Zucchini and Bulgur Wheat
Recipe Type: Main, Easy, Dinner, Meat, Vegetables
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 1 C bulgur wheat
  • 2 C vegetable stock (water or chicken stock are fine too)
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 Argentine sausages, cut into rounds
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into chunks
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1/2 t red pepper flakes
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1 T fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 T fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 tomato, chopped, for topping
  • parmesan cheese, grated, for topping
  • 1/4 C walnuts, chopped, for topping
  • olive oil, for drizzling
Instructions
  1. Cook wheat (similar to cooking rice): Add stock and wheat to a medium pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30-45 minutes.
  2. Heat skillet, add oil. When oil is hot, add sausage and zucchini (if using fully cooked sausage – if not, cook sausage until it’s almost done and then add zucchini). Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  3. Add seasonings, lemon juice, and garlic to skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Add wheat and herbs. Stir and cook 1-2 minutes.
  5. Serve topped with tomato, walnuts, parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of excellent olive oil.

Happy Eating!