Muceddere or “Müceddere” as we write in Turkish, is a meal on its own, full of flavor and nutritious. But I wanted to serve it with mom-style Turkish köfte. I completed the menu with tarhana soup and seasonal salad. For the dessert, I made another recipe from both Ottoman times and famous in the Southeastern part again called “Astarlı Sütlaç” A two-layered pudding: first rice pudding and topped with “zerde” rose water and saffron-flavored rice pudding.
1cupgreen lentilswashes and cook with 2 cups of water until somewhat done drain the access water if any.
1+1/2cupsthick bulgur wheat
1bigonion
1/3cupolive oil or a mix of olive oil and vegetable oil
1tbsptomato paste
1tspeach black pepperred pepper flakes (pul biber), paprika
2tspor more salt
For the topping
1big sizeonion
1/4cupolive oil
1-2tsppul biber
Instructions
Cook The Bulgur:
Wash, drain and cook 1 cup green lentils in 2 cups of water until it is cooked but still keeping its shape. Drain if there is any access water and set aside.
In a medium-size pan saute 1 diced big onion in about 1/3 cup olive oil.
Add thick bulgur and saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add tomato paste, seasonings, and salt and stir for 2 more minutes.
Pour 3 cups of hot water, stir. Then add drained cooked green lentils. Close the lid and simmer until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is fully cooked for about 10-15 minues. If the bulgur is still hard you can drizzle more hot water and continue to cook a bit more. Turn of the heat and rest for 10 minutes.
Sautéd Onion Topping:
Muceddere pilav is topped with sauteed onion and pul biber for extra flavor
Dice 1 big onion, sauté with 1/4 cup olive oil for about 5 minutes on medium heat until it gets colors. Add pul biber, and cook for 30 more seconds.
Pour over rested müceddere pilav and gently mix until corporated.
Notes
How To Complete The Muceddere Pilav Menu:You can serve the muceddere pilav as it since it is a very nutritious and hearty meal like this. But I wanted to serve Turkish kofte on top of it. I also made a seasonal salad with some carrots, red cabbage, and fresh mint I had at home. It is even more simple to make it with a handy food processor like this. Please refer to my video for details.
Keyword bulgur pilav, bulgur with green lentils, gaziantep dishes, muceddere, vegan turkish dishes