Savoury Bulgur Pilaf with Banana Chilli (Meyhane Pilavı)

Ingredients

1 cup bulgur (coarse variety), washed and drained well

½ brown onion, chopped

1 small banana chilli, deseed and chopped into small squares

1 tsp concentrated tomato paste

½ tsp hot chilli paste

2 tsp (heaped) Massel stock powder beef style

2 cups boiled water

1 tbsp vegan margarine

½ tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp dried spearmint

½ tsp Turkish chilli flakes

Salt and pepper

Preparation

Mix the stock powder and boiled water together in a bowl and set aside.

In a shallow saucepan, heat the oil and vegan margarine and add the onions and chilli peppers. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and fry them until they are fully cooked.

Add the tomato paste, hot chilli pastes, dried mint, salt, pepper, Turkish chilli flakes as well as the stock you prepared earlier on. Stir carefully and make sure that both pastes are dissolved fully.

Lastly, add the bulgur. Stir well. Put the lid on. Once it boils, reduce the heat and cook until all the moisture is absorbed.

Remove from the heat and place a sheet of paper towel between the pot and its lid. This’ll absorb the rest of the moisture nice and easy.

Serve warm as a side dish and afiyet olsun as we say in Turkish -means bon appetit.