Salad

• Bulgur is hearty and filling. Combine cooked bulgur with freshly grilled chicken, avocado and tomatoes for a summer night meal. Keep it simple by making a salad of bulgur with minced garlic, tomatoes, onions and spinach garnished with a drizzle of olive oil. Or pair the grain with chickpeas, grilled steak, red onion and tomato.

Tabbouleh

• Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern dish you may want to introduce in place of your family’s typical side dishes. Traditional tabbouleh features bulgur wheat mixed with with parsley, garlic, red onion, mint leaves, cucumber and a finely minced tomato. The salad is dressed with olive oil, salt and pepper and lemons. Add a little crunch to the salad by tossing in toasted pine nuts.

Risotto

• Risotto is a creamy rice dish traditionally made with Arborio rice, but bulgur wheat works as a substitute if you’re cutting out white rice from your diet. Follow the same method for cooking risotto, which is first browning the grain in a pan with butter, then slowly stirring in a liquid – preferably a stock -- into the rice until it is tender and the grain is creamy. Because bulgur wheat doesn’t have the same starch content as Arborio rice, it will have a creamy but more soup-like consistency.

Asian

• Bulgur wheat takes well to heavy spice and flavorings, and its naturally nutty flavor pairs well with Asian-inspired dishes. Serve a stir-fried meal or curry over a bed of bulgur wheat instead of steamed rice. Substitute bulgur wheat for noodles or rice in an Asian salad.