Go Back

Muceddere – Bulgur with green lentils dish

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.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
resting time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Turkish
Servings 6

Equipment

  • 1 wide pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup green lentils washes and cook with 2 cups of water until somewhat done drain the access water if any.
  • 1+1/2 cups thick bulgur wheat
  • 1 big onion
  • 1/3 cup olive oil or a mix of olive oil and vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp each black pepper red pepper flakes (pul biber), paprika
  • 2 tsp or more salt

For the topping

  • 1 big size onion
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1-2 tsp pul 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