I saw this recipe in Woman's Day magazine under Heart Healthy Recipes category. I wanted to try this recipe because it had bulgur wheat as the main ingredient, which I have not tasted before. I use cracked wheat regularly, so I always have it in home. I thought that both were same. So before using it in the recipe, I wanted to be sure and check if there was any difference between bulgur wheat and cracked wheat and found out the following; (Source: www.epicureantable.com)
Bulgur Wheat:
Partially hulled whole wheat kernels that are soaked, then steamed (hence precooked if you will), dried and then crushed are called bulgur. It requires no or little cooking. Though modern processes involve oven drying or roasting some villages still sun dry bulgur on their rooftops.
Cracked Wheat:
Raw whole wheat berries that are crushed to varying qualities of texture are called cracked wheat and require cooking. These are also found in 3 grades of coarseness: fine, medium and coarse, the choice of which depends on use and preference.
To simplify it even more bulgur is wheat cracked after cooking and drying, whereas the wheat is cracked in raw stage for cracked wheat.
Are they interchangeable?
This depends on whether the recipe requires cooking or not and your own degree of purism. A salad recipe such as tabooli is uncooked, and so requires true bulghur as do recipes where bulghur is brought to the boil, cooked for a moment then left to rest off heat to swell as in a pilaf. Recipes requiring longer cooking times or coarse grain bulghur can be replaced with cracked wheat, but will need more cooking time. But both bulgur and cracked wheat are excellent sources of fiber, minerals and vitamins for your diet.
Moving on to the recipe, I have scaled down the measurements given in the original recipe; still we had a lot of chili. I made it for dinner and it was very filling.
Recipe
Veggie Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 Cups Water
- ½ Cup Bulgur Wheat
- 2 Teaspoon Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Chopped Onion
- ½ Cup Chopped Red Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Or As Per Taste Chili Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 Cup Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree (Canned)
- 1 Diced Medium Zucchini
- ½ Cup Frozen Corn
- 1 Cup Drained And Rinsed Black Beans (Canned)
- ¼ Cup Chopped Cilantro
Instructions
- Put 3 cups of the water and bulgur in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high until bulgur is tender, about 13 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add onion and pepper; saute 5 minutes.
- Add chili powder, garlic and cumin; saute until fragrant.
- Add remaining 2 cups water, the tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini and corn; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.
- Stir in beans and bulgur; heat through.
- Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.
My Notes
- My husband loved the chili. The only thing I didn't like was the flavor of the red pepper. I will be trying it without the red pepper next time.
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Deepa Ramani says
Hi Madhu
I am making this again this year. It's part of my annual Thanksgiving menu. Thank you for your wonderful recipes!!
Deepa
Madhuram says
You're very welcome Deepa. 🙂
Taj Behan says
I'll try to cook this one! My Husband love chillies so much and I envy Charu 'coz she can cook. But then thanks to you Madhuram, for your step by step procedure of cooking. Thanks for the recipe and watching out for your Chilli kind of recipes.
Charu says
Hi Madhuram,
Just discovered your website and it rocks! 🙂 Made this chili for dinner. Hope my husband likes it as much as I do.
Charu welcome to my blog. Actually in my place my husband liked it more than me.
Barbara says
A friend shared this with me a while back and it is now one of my favorite vegetarian meals.
A-kay says
We love soup and this sure easy chili recipe. But I think, I will use Barley instead of bulgur wheat (just cos I have it at home 🙂 ).
Libby says
Looks yummy. There's also a very nice recipe for chili with bulgur in the Moosewood Cookbook.
Madhuram says
Thank you everybody for all your wonderful comments. Do try it. (Maybe without the red pepper! 😀 )
Roma says
Nice one Madhu. I must try to get Bulgur and try this out sometime. It seems nutritious and gets cooked fast too.
Vaishali says
Lovely and delicious recipe, Madhuram. I love bulgur and you can be sure I will try it your way!
Hetal says
Hi...I have something for you in my blog
Aparna says
Just came across your blog. I liked this recipe. Great way to incorporate grain and veggies.
Foodiefriend says
Good stuff...
The recipe looks tasty and healthy too....
A great deal to have tasty and healthy stuff in the same dish...
Swati: Sugarcraft India says
A lovely, delicious and wholesome dish Madhuram!!
kalva says
this one is for me!!!
Srivalli says
madhu..thats one lovely dish..even I don't like red pepper much...can replace that!
ranji says
hey thats one healthy one pot dish...delciious madhu:)
Spillay says
One of my favourite salad dish is Tabbouleh, and when I decided to prepare it at home,.. I had to hunt down for bulgur, which is one of primary ingredients. Never even knew of it before that. Ha! Ha!
Wow! Your chilli looks great! 😛 (Wish I lived around the corner from you... I'd be dropping in all the time 🙂
shri says
great dish!!it looks so nice.
sukanya says
WOW!.... Chili looks so good. Nice color. Loved it so much. Great pictures. YUM! Bulgur Wheat makes it healthy too....
Madhavi says
Hey Madhu..Chilli looks great, awesome entry dear!!!
Uma says
the chili looks delicous, the veggie way! Yummy pics too.
BTW, I have posted a recipe for "Your Recipe Rocks" today. Here is the link:
http://teluguruchi.blogspot.com/2008/06/nupurs-kati-roll.html
Bharti says
hey..that looks really good. Interesting twist with the addition of bulgur.
Happy Cook says
Well that is indeed a whole plate of healthy delicious dish
Laksh says
This recipe really rocks. Bookmarked again!
Asha says
What a nice lunch it makes.Good one. I would make some Corn bread to go with it!!:)