What makes kisir different from mainstream Tabbouleh is the addition of two ingredients: tomato paste and pepper paste. These stain the bulgur grains orange-red, and gives the finished dish a rich, earthy flavor. If you use hot pepper paste, the kisir will also go down with a lovely burn.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 8 people | 15 minutes |
| Passive Time |
| 30-45 minutes |
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What makes kisir different from mainstream Tabbouleh is the addition of two ingredients: tomato paste and pepper paste. These stain the bulgur grains orange-red, and gives the finished dish a rich, earthy flavor. If you use hot pepper paste, the kisir will also go down with a lovely burn.
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Ingredients
- 2 cups bulgur (fine)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon , juiced – OR –
- 2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- hot chili pepper paste , to taste
- 2 cups boiling water
- 8-10 green onions
- 4-5 sprigs mint
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 bunch parsley , chopped
- 1 onion , minced
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 1 red bell pepper
- red pepper flakes
- salt
Servings: people
Units:
Instructions
- Add bulgur, olive oil, lemon juice, tomato paste, pepper paste, and salt to a large bowl. Mix until the pastes are evenly distributed, then pour on hot water.
- Set aside while chopping the other ingredients. The bulgur will soften. It will probably take 30-45 minutes to be totally ready to eat.
- After you’ve added everything to the bowl, season with plenty of salt. Give the kisir a mix and refrigerate until the bulgur grains are nice and soft.
Recipe Notes
Notes on the chili pepper paste: I found the chili paste at whole foods on the international aisle, although a middle eastern market would have it, too. The one I bought was scorching hot, so I suggest starting with a little. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away. Do keep in mind, the heat will mellow overnight.
If you don’t want a huge jar of chili paste that you might not use again, you could also simply add some diced hot chili pepper (like red fresno, to taste). If you want mild kisir, simply add an extra spoonful of tomato paste and leave the chili paste out completely.