Kisir Bulgarian salad with parsley, spring onions, lemon and lettuce leaves
Turkish Recipe

Kısır

For Kisir, the bulgur is purified with hot water and then mixed with spicy tomato-pepper paste, olive oil, lemon, pomegranate syrup and lots of parsley. It is a salad that goes well with meze, grilled dishes or as a light lunch.

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Total time 25 min
Calories 330 kcal
Servings 4 servings
Difficulty Easy
By the Published Updated Editorially approved

Why this recipe works

Prepare kisir as a spicy bulgur salad

Kisir thrives on acidity, herbs and a well-distributed spice paste. The bulgur should remain soft but grainy. Tomato paste and pepper pulp are briefly dissolved in olive oil so that they distribute evenly and give the salad its strong colour.

Quick Dinners Mediterranean Cuisine Vegetarian Dinners Lunch

Recipe

Kısır

Kisir is a Turkish bulgur salad with tomato paste, paprika, lemon, pomegranate syrup, herbs and spring onions. It tastes fresh, spicy and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. 1

    Bulgur

    Pour hot water over the bulgur, cover and leave to swell for 10 to 15 minutes, then loosen with a fork.

  2. 2

    Dissolve seasoning paste

    Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan. Stir in the tomato paste and the paprika for 1 to 2 minutes until the paste is fragrant.

  3. 3

    Season bulgur

    Mix the spice paste, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup, cumin, Pul biber, salt and pepper into the bulgur.

  4. 4

    Add herbs and vegetables

    Fold in spring onions, parsley, mint, tomato and optional cucumber. Do not crush to keep the salad fresh.

  5. 5

    Taste and serve

    Let simmer for 10 minutes, season again with lemon, salt and pomegranate syrup and serve with lettuce leaves.

Kitchen know-how

Tips for Kısır

Use fine bulgur

For Kisir fine Bulgur is right. Coarse Bulgur needs longer cooking time and does not become so salty.

Balance acidity

Lemon and pomegranate syrup add freshness. After the pulp, taste again, because bulgur absorbs a lot of spice.

Stir in the herbs

Fold in the parsley and mint until the bulgur is cooled, so they remain green and fresh.

Variations

How to adapt this recipe

Serve kisir in Romanasalat leaves, fresh, practical to divide and typical for meze bars.

More paprika, Pul Biber and a little chilli oil make Kisir stronger. Then balance with lemon.

Nutrition per serving

330kcal
48.0 gCarbohydrates
8.0 gProtein
12.0 gFat

Values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ about Kısır

Fine bulgur is right, because it only needs to swell and gets a loose lettuce structure. Coarse bulgur is less suitable for kisir.

Yes, Kisir is easy to prepare. Fold in herbs and fresh tomatoes just before serving.

Pomegranate syrup brings sweet and sour depth. Alternatively, use a little more lemon juice and a little dash of maple syrup or honey.

Bulgur absorbs a lot of liquid. Adjust after the pulp with olive oil, lemon or a little water and season again.

Keep cooking

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