What is bulgur?

by Cookthink

Bulgur (also known as bulgar, bulghur, and burghul) is whole wheat that's been parboiled, dried and crushed (or cracked). The outer bran layer is then rubbed off by hand and then sometimes ground again to achieve a particular grain size. Bulgur is sometimes referred to as cracked wheat, which is not cooked during production, and takes much longer to cook. Chewy and nutty-tasting, bulgur is high in fiber, protein, iron, magnesium and B vitamins. Finely ground bulgur may be boiled and eaten as a hot cereal, while medium ground may be combined with minced meat or vegetables to make meatballs or burgers. Coarsely ground bulgur is often used as a substitute for rice in pilafs and as a main ingredient in salads like tabbouleh or kibbeh, or in casseroles, soups or stews.