Skip to main content

Kisir

Kisir is a filling and luscious Turkish country salad. Chili flakes or a chili pepper give it a thrilling zing.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 8

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups bulgur (cracked wheat)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt
1/3 teaspoon chili flakes or pinch of ground chili pepper, to taste
1 fresh red or green chili pepper, very finely chopped
1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup chopped mint leaves
6 scallions, finely chopped
2 large tomatoes, finely diced

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the bulgur in a bowl, pour plenty of boiling water on it, and leave for 20–60 minutes, until the grain is tender. Drain and squeeze the excess water out in a colander.

    Step 2

    Add the tomato paste, oil and lemon juice, salt and chili flakes or chili pepper and mix thoroughly. You can do this in advance.

    Step 3

    Just before serving, mix in the rest of the ingredients.

  2. Variation

    Step 4

    Adding 2 tablespoons of sour-pomegranate concentrate or molasses gives the grain a brown tinge and sweet-and-sour tartness.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Glossy, intensely chocolaty, and spiked with coffee and sour cream, this Bundt is the ultimate all-purpose dessert.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.