Bulgur Salad a la CRZN

Organic Hi-Fiber Grain Salad I was leafing through a cookbook that a late dear friend had given me almost 30 years ago when I happen to find the recipe for "Bulgur Salad with Cucumber and Tomato". So, what is "bulgur?", I thought. According to ScienceDirect.com, making bulgur from wheat is "an ancient process that originated in the Anatolia region of modern-day Turkey, the Middle EAst, and the Mediterranean. Bulgur is regarded as one of humankind(s first 'processed foods'. It has greater nutritional value and is resistant to insect-pests (Bayram,2007)." It was truly my first time to hear about “bulgur” but when I found out that it was a cereal food*, I immediately decided to prepare it. I followed the recipe I had just found with a little twist. I substituted bulgur with what I had on hand: Organic 6 Grain Hot Cereal! (See the original recipe below.) However, in order make the taste according to my liking, I added 1 tsp of turmeric powder,1 Tbsp of Garam Marsala, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 Tbsp tomato ketchup. And...voila! It turned out to be much more savory ---so full of flavor, delicious and tasty. This recipe is a good protein substitute and a good side dish for salads.

Bulgur Salad with Cucumber and Tomatoes 1/2 cup bulgur 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves 1/2 cup chopped seeded cucumber 1/2 cup quartered cherry 1 scallion, sliced thin In a small saucepan combine the bulgur, the salt, and 3/4 cup water and simmer the mixture, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Transfer the bulgur to a bowl, let it cool for 10 minutes, and stir in the lemon juice, the oil, the parsley, the cucumber, the tomatoes, the scallions, and salt and pepper to taste. Serves 2 *Bulgur is a complex carbohydrate and is a fiber-rich whole grain that may have a positive impact on heart health, weight loss, blood sugar control and digestive health. It carries twice the fiber that brown rice carries.