PART ONE: Bulgur Wheat Pilaf with Pomegranates, Herbs, Sultanas and Pistachios!
When people ask me where I get ideas for recipes, I always respond the ingredients inspire the recipes! A collection of fresh herbs like mint gathered from the garden, a bag of ripe pomegranates from the farmer’s market, some grains I have left in my pantry, or an exotic condiment like pomegranate molasses all feed my recipe creations. As a matter of fact it was this combination of ingredients that inspired me to make my Bulgur Wheat Pilaf with pomegranates, herbs, sultanas and pistachios!
This pilaf is like a bowl of jewels, made colorful with sparkling pomegranate seeds, parsley, mint, pistachios and sultanas, or golden raisins. The flavors and textures are at once chewy, crunchy, nutty, sweet, and savory. I serve this dish in the summer as part of a barbecue (as the salad can be eaten at room temperature and is not perishable) or as part of a Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. Pomegranate seeds are available now all year round in places Trader Joes, and I always keep a supply of pistachios and pine nuts in my freezer ready to go. But the best part of the salad is the dressing, which is so simple and robust because of the pomegranate molasses, which is at once sweet, rich, and tart. That is why I will feature a 3 part series on this very ingredient, to show you how you can incorporate this anti-oxidant rich sweetener into your side dishes, main courses, and desserts! For the recipe on this insanely delicious bulgur pilaf, click on the video below:
And I realize there are many of you that might not have pomegranate molasses in your neighborhood, so you can cook down pomegranate juice in a saucepan on low heat until it turns syrupy. Or, if you want the real deal, I have partnered with one of my favorite companies called Sadaf, so you can get 10% off your purchase by using my name BLANCHE in the promo code! You can just visit: http://www.sadaf.com/
I really hope you enjoy this salad as much as I do, and leave your comments below!
Ingredient List:
Fresh Mint
Fresh parsley
Pomegranate seeds
Chicken or vegetable broth
Sultanas (or any other dried fruit you like)
Shelled, roasted, and salted pistachios
Bulgur #3 (largest variety)
Pomegranate molasses
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Hi Blanche, Thanks for this recipe idea. I use pomegranate molasses (sold at World Market BTW) drizzled on my salad of melon chunks, arugula and feta! See you soon! Nancy
Sounds fabulous, but of course everything you make is fabulous! See you soon! <3