KISIR

6 Servings
Some Turkish women prepare kisir for lunch or for teatime (btw. 3 - 5 PM). It is like a bulgur salad.

Ingredients

2 cups fine bulgur /cracked wheat
3 cups boiling water
1 medium chopped onion
5 tomatoes (diced)
2 cucumbers (diced)
2 green anaheim chili peppers or banana peppers (finely sliced)
½ bunch parsley (minced)
6 scallions (thinly sliced)
2 tablespoons lemon juice or 1 tablespoon pomegranate sour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon red pepper paste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 dessert spoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or 1 tablespoon dried mint
1,5 dessert spoons red pepper flakes
1 dessert spoon isot paprika
1 dessert spoon freshly ground black pepper
Lettuce and grape leaves.

Directions

In a large bowl, cover bulgur with enough boiling water. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile chop veggies except lettuce and grape leaves. Put each veggie in a different bowl.

30 minutes later, heat a small size nonstick frying pan over medium-low heat. Heat the olive oil in the frying pan. Add the onions and saute over medium heat for 5-6 minutes stirring. Add the tomato paste and red pepper paste and saute for 3 minutes.

Combine paste and onion mixture with bulgur and add salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, isot paprika and knead a few minutes.

Then add cucumbers, scallions, parsley and mint and pour lemon juice over it and mix well with a wooden spoon.

At the end add tomatoes and gently stir.

Serve with lettuce, grape leaves, pickle and TEA.

Have a good appetite!