Today I’m sharing one of our favorite traditional Turkish dishes: Kısır!
This version is simple, fresh, and incredibly delicious. It officially serves 2 people, but we got 3 generous portions out of it — and honestly, we finished it all in one sitting!
📝 Ingredients
For the base:
• 1½ cups fine bulgur (fine bulgur for kofte)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ onion, very finely chopped
• Boiling water (add gradually — just enough to hydrate, don’t make it mushy)
• Salt to taste
For the flavor base:
• 1 teaspoon red pepper paste
• 3 teaspoons tomato paste
• Juice of 2 whole lemons
• Olive oil (generous drizzle)
Fresh additions:
• 4–5 green onions, finely chopped
• ½ bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2–3 cucumbers, diced
• 1 large tomato, diced
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👩🍳 Instructions
1. Place the fine bulgur in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add minced garlic, finely chopped onion, and salt.
3. Slowly pour in boiling water — just enough to soften the bulgur. Be careful not to add too much; the texture should stay fluffy, not mushy. Cover and let it sit for about 10–15 minutes until the bulgur absorbs the water.
4. Add the red pepper paste and tomato paste. Mix well.
5. Pour in the fresh lemon juice and drizzle olive oil generously.
6. Add the chopped green onions, parsley, cucumbers, and tomato.
👉 Important tip: Mix gently and frequently, but avoid crushing the bulgur. The texture should remain light and separate — that’s the secret to perfect kısır!
Taste and adjust lemon, salt, or olive oil if needed.
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🥗 What to Serve with Kısır
On the side, I prepared a simple red cabbage salad with:
• Walnuts
• Cucumber
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
You can also keep it simple and serve it with just sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.
This recipe turned out incredibly flavorful — fresh, tangy, and perfectly balanced. We loved it!
Enjoy your meal! ✨
Dining and Cooking