Include more grains in your diet, starting with satisfying, mouthwatering, and filling Chicken Fried Bulgur!
What is bulgur? It’s known as a type of whole wheat grain in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Unlike other grains, the bulgur is parboiled, dried, and cracked to make it easy, quick, and convenient to cook.
They say that food is a source of happiness, and it is especially true for this special bulgur recipe. Aside from the bulgur itself, you will also taste the well-seasoned chicken and the perfectly cooked vegetables.
There are different ways to cook bulgur, but the Chicken Fried Bulgur has always been a favorite in our home. It’s one of the healthy recipes that’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy!
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How to Make Chicken Fried Bulgur
If you haven’t tried Chicken Fried Bulgur before, then this is your sign to cook it today. It’s going to make dining so much better because every spoonful is an absolute delight to the senses.
Don’t go anyways because everything you need to know about the Chicken Fried Bulgur is right here!
Ingredients
What goes into the best Chicken Fried Bulgur?
Bulgur
Did you know that bulgur was discovered more than 4,000 years ago?
It was first produced and used in the Mediterranean as convenience food among the people. Today, bulgur is widely used all over the world, especially in the Middle East where it is transformed into world-class delicacies.
But first, what is bulgur? Bulgur is a grain made of cracked grains of wheat parboiled and dried for easy preparation. Since it has already been parboiled, it doesn’t take a lot of time to cook and it is versatile, too.
When fully cooked, plain bulgur will remind you of the texture of quinoa or couscous. It has a mild natural, earthy flavor making it perfect for adding to meat or vegetables.
Bulgur comes in various variations: fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse. These vary in cooking time and how you can use them. You can add bulgur to pilaf, salad, soups, porridge, and more!
What’s your favorite bulgur recipe so far?
Chicken
Your bulgur will surely taste so much better with chicken.
There are plenty of protein options to choose from, but chicken is always my go-to choice. It’s not just easy and quick to cook, but it also adapts well to the natural flavors of the bulgur.
Once you cook the chicken, it will have a tender, juicy, and soft quality to make every bite delightful. Aside from chicken, you can also go for beef, fish, turkey, and other proteins.
Aside from cooking chicken into the bulgur, you can also cook chicken recipes as a main dish. I suggest cooking Crispy Fried Chicken, Roast Chicken, and Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry!
Aromatics
Give the dish the best fragrance using onion, garlic, and spring onions.
The onion and spring onion will add a pungent, spicy, and sweet flavor. Meanwhile, the garlic will add a buttery and strong taste. These aromatics are guaranteed to escalate the quality of the dish, from flavor to fragrance.
Carrots
Whenever I cook Chicken Fried Bulgur, I make sure to add carrots.
Carrots give the dish an earthy and mildly sweet flavor to complement the bulgur. As long as you cook them properly, you will experience how crunchy and crisp they are at every bite.
The vibrant orange color of the carrots will also make the dish so much more appealing. Since this is a stir-fried recipe, you can be sure that carrots will be fantastic ingredients.
Green beans
Every time I stir fry grains, I make it a point to add green beans as well.
Green beans have a mildly sweet and earthy taste with a crunchy and chewy texture when cooked well. These also make good pairings with the carrots and the bell peppers.
You can stir fry, steam, saute, grill, or roast the green beans to unleash a richer flavor and a fun texture. Whether you fry basmati or bulgur, add in some green beans to make it better.
Bell peppers
Which bell peppers should you use for the Chicken Fried Bulgur?
All of them, of course! In this recipe, you will need green, red, and yellow bell peppers. Once you put all of these together, you’ll get the best balance of flavor couple with fantastic color and aroma.
Enjoy the full flavors of all bell peppers, from green, red, to yellow. The red and yellow bell peppers are great for adding a sweet and fruity flavor. On the other hand, the green bell pepper has an earthy and robust taste.
Sweetcorn
You won’t want to miss out on adding sweetcorn to the bulgur.
The sweetcorn kernels will add a juicy, buttery, and sweet quality that makes the whole dish better. Sweetcorn also adds a burst of color to the dish for an appetizing look.
You can use the kernels from Corn on the Cob when you make it at home. Just shuck the corn to get the kernels. Don’t worry, you can still fry them even after you pre-cook them.
Seasoning
Give the Chicken Fried Bulgur the best flavor with the right herbs and spices.
I suggest using curry powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, fenugreek, oregano, marjoram, mixed herbs, cumin, sea salt, ground mace, and knorr chicken stock cube.ย
You will also need these spices to season and marinate the chicken for full flavors from the inside out.
Who knew that these simple ingredients could be cooked into an ultimately delicious and satisfying dish? You are now one step closer to cooking the best Chicken Fried Bulgur!
Directions
If you want to make the perfect Chicken Fried Bulgur, then just follow these simple steps to get the best results:
Chicken
- In a bowl, mix curry powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, fenugreek powder, oregano, marjoram, mixed herbs, cumin, ground mace, knorr chicken cubes, and sea salt.
- Then, season the chicken in a resealable bag.
- Marinate the chicken for hours or overnight.
Bulgur
- Rinse the bulgur wheat until the water is clear.
- Add the bulgur, chicken stock cube, and sea salt to a pot of boiling water.
- Stir the ingredients with a spatula.
- Cook the bulgur for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Once youโre happy with the flavor, set it aside to cool.
Frying time!
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium fire.
- Saute the garlic, onion, and chicken.
- Once the chicken is cooked, toss in the carrots and green beans.
- Cook the veggies for two minutes.
- Mix the bell peppers, sweetcorn, and spring onions.
- Then, add the pre-cooked bulgur.
- Stir everything together.
- Let the dish simmer for five minutes on low heat.
- Once done, you can serve it with your favorite dishes and drinks!
Once you’re happy with the flavors and doneness, serve it on a plate and dig in! Low-calorie, protein-rich, healthy, easy, and flavorful – this is undoubtedly the best Chicken Fried Bulgur recipe.ย
Tips
Bulgur Wheat
Buying bulgur wheat
- Bulgur wheat can be purchased in bulk or in pre-weighed packages.
- It has four variants or grades: fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse.
- The fine and medium grades are perfect for making porridge, while the coarse grades are great for soups and rice dishes.
Storing bulgur wheat
- Store the bulgur in a jar.
- Place it in a cool and dry area for several months.
- You may also refrigerate it during the warmer months.
- The Mediterranean Dish suggests storing cooked bulgur in the fridge for four days or in the freezer for three months.
Chicken
Buying chicken
- Smart Chicken suggests buying pink and plump chicken.
- Check the chicken for any foul odor.
- The chicken should also be well-wrapped.
Storing chicken
- Keep the chicken in the fridge if you intend to cook it within two days.
- Store it in the freezer to last up to a few months.
Chicken Fried Bulgur Variations
There are many ways to make the Chicken Fried Bulgur interesting and fun.
For instance, you can replace the chicken with beef, turkey, fish, tofu, tempeh, and other toppings. Meanwhile, the vegetable options include peas, broccoli, cabbage, mushrooms, and celery.
Make the seasoning tastier by using other herbs, spices, and condiments. You can use soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, cilantro, and more. You can also start with classic Bulgur Wheat to try it out.
More Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Bites – mashed chicken sausages formed into balls and deep-fried until crispy
- Popcorn Chicken – crunchy and flaky chicken breast fillets
- Curry Chicken Pasta – spaghetti coated in savory curry sauce with chicken
- Crispy Fried Chicken – a classic fried chicken recipe for kids and adults
- Chicken Curry – an Indian cuisine featuring smoky chicken and yummy curry
- Crispy Chicken Wings – seasoned chicken wings fried to perfection
- Chicken Pizza – use chicken as toppings for your pizza
- Chicken Gizzard Stew – make a savory stew from chewy chicken gizzards
- Fried Chicken Gizzards – deep fry gizzards to taste how yummy they are
- Chicken Pie – wrap chicken in the flaky and crunchy dough to deep fry
- Roast Chicken – marinate, baste, and roast the chicken until juicy and tender
- Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry – the perfect stir fry recipe with chicken and vegetables
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken – cook crispy fried chicken with less oil
Recommended Tools
- Bowl: Use bowls to prepare your ingredients.
- Resealable bag: This is where you should marinate and store your chicken.
- Frying pan: Cook the Chicken Fried Bulgur in a frying pan.
- Spatula: Use a spatula to mix the ingredients.
- Pot: Prepare the bulgur in a pot.
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How to Serve Chicken Fried Bulgur
In less than an hour, your Chicken Fried Bulgur is ready to serve!
The best thing about this recipe is that you can serve it alone and still get a complete meal. It already has grains, meat, and vegetables that make up a full dish. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
This recipe is also perfect for when you want to bring lunch to work. I suggest cooking it for your meal prep plans, too. Sometimes, I turn it into a salad bowl with a simple salad dressing.
Another fun way of serving it is to use it as a stuffing for bell peppers or other kinds of peppers. Sometimes, a broth will also go well with your Chicken Bulgur.
Here are some of the best drinks you can enjoy with Chicken Fried Bulgur:
- Roast Chicken – use roast chicken chunks for a savory flavor
- Smoked Mackerel – top the bulgur off with pieces of smoked mackerel
- Salad – every salad recipe is better with a bulgur and chicken
- Air Fryer Roasted Peanuts – the crunchy peanuts go well with the chicken bulgur
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Eat the Chicken Fried Bulgur within two hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does bulgur need to be soaked before cooking?
You can soak it, but it is unnecessary, especially if you cook it right away. You can rinse it several times instead as an alternative to soaking it.
What does bulgur wheat taste like?
Once you cook it properly, the bulgur wheat will taste like a mix of mild nutty and earthy flavors. You can cook it in liquid stock or add herbs and spices to make it savory or smoky.
How is bulgur made?
First, the grains are harvested and cleaned. Once clean, you parboil them by partially cooking them in water or steaming. Then, spread them out to dry under the sun or in the oven. Finally, the grains are milled and sifted until fine.
What is bulgur used for in cooking?
One of the best ways to use bulgur is to cook it into a pilaf or rice bowl. You can also add it to salads, stuffings, soups, stews, burgers, and even baked goods.
Chicken Fried Bulgur
Ingredients
For bulgur
- 2 cups bulgur wheat (coarse)
- 1 chicken stock cube
- 1 tsp sea salt
For chicken seasoning
- 500 g chicken (diced)
- 2 tsp curry powder
- ยฝ tsp garlic powder
- ยฝ tsp ginger powder
- ยฝ tsp fenugreek
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp marjoram
- 1 tsp mixed herbs
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 knorr chicken stock cube
- ยฝ tsp sea salt
- 1 ยฝ tsp ground mace
For garnishing
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 garlic (minced)
- 1 onion (diced)
- ยฝ cup carrot (diced)
- ยฝ cup green beans
- mixed bell peppers (ยผ each)
- ยฝ cup sweetcorn
- ยผ cup spring onion
Instructions
Chicken
- In a bowl, mix curry powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, fenugreek powder, oregano, marjoram, mixed herbs, cumin, ground mace, knorr chicken cubes, and sea salt.
- Then, season the chicken in a resealable bag.
- Marinate the chicken for hours or overnight.
Bulgur
- Rinse the bulgur wheat until the water is clear.
- Add the bulgur, chicken stock cube, and sea salt to a pot of boiling water.
- Stir the ingredients with a spatula.
- Cook the bulgur for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Once youโre happy with the flavor, set it aside to cool.
Frying time!
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium fire.
- Saute the garlic, onion, and chicken.
- Once the chicken is cooked, toss in the carrots and green beans.
- Cook the veggies for two minutes.
- Mix the bell peppers, sweetcorn, and spring onions.
- Add the pre-cooked bulgur.
- Stir everything together.
- Let the dish simmer for five minutes on low heat.
- Once done, you can serve it with your favorite dishes and drinks!
Video
Notes
- Always make sure to properly store your bulgur wheat for a delicious Chicken Fried Bulgur recipe.
- You can be as creative as you want with the seasonings.
- Bulgur wheat is not recommended for gluten-free and coeliac diets.
- Mixing the herbs and spices before marinating helps distribute and intensify the flavors.