Veggie Cracked Wheat / Bulgur Salad (Kisir) / Turkish Tabouli

Kısır is the Turkish and different version of a well-known Arabic dish called tabbouleh. Although there are many differences between these two dishes, the main one is that the Turkish tabbouleh has tomato and pepper paste that gives it a nice tangy flavor and pretty color.  In Turkey the recipe for kısır varies from region to region. In Adana they use more water than anywhere else or in Antakya (Hatay) they don't use water at all; they knead bulgur with tomato and pepper paste until it gets soft. However it's made, kısır is made everywhere in Turkey and is loved dearly. It is served sometimes with the afternoon tea, sometimes as an appetizer, and sometimes as a great summer dish you can enjoy when it's boiling hot outside.

Prep Time: 15 min.
4 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fine bulgur
• 1 cup boiled water
• 1 tbsp Turkish red pepper paste (there are plain, mild and spicy versions; I used plain)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 
• 6 green onions, white part and some of the green part sliced thin
• 4 cucumbers, diced
• 4 tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped mint
• 1/2 cup chopped dill
• 1/2 cup chopped lettuce
• juice of 2 lemons
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• crushed red pepper to taste (omit if using spicy red pepper paste)
• salt to taste
• a pinch of black pepper and a pinch of cumin.

Preparation:

• In a large mixing bowl, pour the water over the cracked wheat and cover, let stand about 20 minutes or until wheat is tender and water is absorbed. 
• Add all ingredients as follows; tomato and pepper paste, chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, herbs and toss with the mix. Combine with the oil, lemon juice, spices and salt. 
• Mix well. 
• Chill. 
• Serve and enjoy.