A warm dish with savory flavor on a chilly winter’s day. Jenan Zammar’s Tomato Bulgur Pilaf is an easy 40-minute recipe that you can make for dinner tonight and save extra for lunch tomorrow. With greenhouse grown Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes, this dish will bring a sense to freshness to your next family meal.

The cooler months are upon us and it’s the perfect season for a cozy, warm and delicious meal like Tomato Bulgur Pilaf. With Pure Flavor® Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes, this pilaf is full of savory flavor. 

I like to make my pilaf using coarse bulgur, strained tomatoes, and onion, with Juno® Bites being the final ingredient to really take it over the top! Simple ingredients that are easy to prepare and with flavors the whole family loves: I promise that after you try it for the first time you’ll be making this recipe on repeat, just like I do.

top view of cup of Juno Bites red grape tomatoes

As a mom of three, I love making healthy meals for my family that are also easy and quick to prepare. Since the Pilaf has very simple ingredients, I end up making it often because it only takes 40 minutes from start to finish. The kids love it especially because of the added Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes.

We’re home a lot more these days so quick meals are always a good idea! 

Bulgur wheat is most often found in Tabbouli and other Mediterranean dishes.  I’m Lebanese and we tend to have a lot of dishes with rice, so switching up the rice with bulgur is a nice change once in a while. 

Bulgur is a whole grain that ranges in sizes 1 (fine) to 3 (coarse), making it easy to find the right consistency time and time again.

For this recipe, I find that the coarse variety is best, but experiment and find what works for you.  Bulgur is a great side dish like rice and quinoa. The thing I love about bulgur, though, is that it can easily be prepared as a meal on its own. It’s full of fibre and protein, which makes every dish I cook with it, including this Tomato Bulgur Pilaf, very filling. 

To make this pilaf recipe, all you need to do is sauté a diced onion in a medium pot for 5 to 7 minutes. Then, stir in fresh Juno® Bites with one cup of bulgur.

Tomato Bulgur Pilaf is typically made by using strained tomato or tomato paste. I like to use strained tomatoes for this dish because of how simple and easy it is, but there’s no substitute for real, fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes. That’s why every time I cook this pilaf – and other recipes that call for strained tomatoes or tomato paste – I make sure to have a pint or two of Juno® Bites. Plus, the kids and I get to snack on them while I’m cooking!

mixing juno bites with bulgar in pot

Rather than chopping the grape tomatoes, I simply slice them in half so that they’re big enough to hold their shape but also softened to release some juicy flavor. They add a gorgeous pop of color to the dish also while giving it that punch of flavor these tomatoes are known for. 

Once the onion, tomatoes and bulgur have mixed together well, add in chicken stock and strained tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt and allspice. Stir as you bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer for 15 minutes. Now you can remove it from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes. Fluff it with a fork and it’s ready to serve!

This dish is very versatile, so try it out yourself and next time you can make additions and changes that fit your family’s flavor preferences! You can add chicken, beef or chickpeas to the bulgur while it cooks or substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth – a great way to keep it a vegetarian meal. 

photo of finished bowl of tomato bulgur pilaf with juno bites pack

Tomato Bulgur Pilaf also goes really well with yogurt or a simple garden salad. I remember when my mother used to make this dish, she would serve it with slices of raw onion.  Radishes and pickled vegetables are also great options to serve with the pilaf.

Oh, and I almost forgot: don’t miss out on adding some delicious pita bread!  Cut a small piece of pita, scoop up some bulgur and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about!

When making this dish, you may want to double the recipe because it tastes even better the next day for a quick lunch or as a side with dinner!  I like it warmed up, but it can be enjoyed cold as well.

Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or a delicious side dish, this Tomato Bulgur Pilaf is the perfect recipe! Your family will love it and you’ll love how easy it is to prepare!   With just a few ingredients, you’ll end up with a hearty, warm and cozy meal to enjoy with your family.

To make this Tomato Bulgur Pilaf recipe yourself, click here.

For more tasty recipes like this, make sure to sign up for Pure Flavor’s monthly newsletter.