Easy Entertaining - Bulgur Wheat Patties With Spicy Tahini Sauce

The chewy texture and nutty flavor of bulgur wheat make it perfect for this recipe. Our tasty bulgur wheat patties recipe with spicy tahini sauce are a delicious easy vegan appetizer. Serve with Harira soup and fennel salad and you'll have an awesome colorful and healthy vegan dinner.

What is Bulgur Wheat

Harvested wheat is sold in the whole form of wheat berries, which are delicious but take a while to cook. Bulgur is cracked wheat kernels that have been partially cooked and then dried. This whole grain is nutty and rich in fiber, it cooks fast and is used in Mediterranean cooking. The grains come in several different sizes used as a rice substitute, as a meat substitute, and as an ingredient in soups, porridge, salads, pilaf, and casseroles.

Different Types of Bulgur Wheat

Bulgur grains come in four main kernel sizes:

• fine
• medium
• coarse
• extra coarse

How to Cook Bulgur

Bulgur wheat recipes always require hydrating the wheat kernels in boiling water. It is a one-to-one ratio. Place one cup of bulgur wheat in a bowl and add one cup of boiling water. Stir. Wait twenty minutes until the grains are tender. Fluff it with a fork and it's ready to use. Our recipe requires removing the excess water, if there's any left. Dry bulgur can be added to soup without having to re-hydrate it.

Ingredients for Bulgur Wheat Patties with Spicy Tahini Sauce

• Fine Bulgur Wheat. The texture of this quick-cooking grain is similar to couscous. It may also be called "quick cooking bulgur."
• Boiling Water.
• All-Purpose Flour. Helps bond the patty ingredients together.
• Spices. Sweet Paprika. Turmeric. Cumin. Black Pepper.
• Canned Chickpeas. Adds protein to the patties.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
• Cooking Spray or Extra Olive Oil.

Ingredients for the Spicy Tahini Sauce

• Tahini Paste. Made from ground sesame seeds, this is a common ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice. This will have a brighter flavor than bottled juice.
• Water.
• Sriracha. A hot sauce made from chili peppers and vinegar. Very spicy.

How to Make Bulgur Wheat Patties with Spicy Tahini Sauce

The first step is to get your bulgur grains ready. Place them in a mixing bowl and add boiling water. Stir it up. Let it sit for twenty minutes, then squeeze the excess moisture out. While the grains are soaking, get your other ingredients ready!

Preheat your oven. Reserving the liquid in a bowl, drain one can of chickpeas. Add ½ cup of the reserved liquid and the chickpeas to your food processor bowl and pulse until creamy.

Transfer your squeezed bulgur to a new mixing bowl and add the chickpeas mixture and spices. Mix it into a dough. Form the patties. Bake and serve with tahini sauce.

To make the sauce, combine all ingredients except water and sriracha. Add small amounts of water until you reach your desired consistency. Then fold in the sriracha and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Tips for Tahini Sauce

• The tahini sauce may thicken in the refrigerator. Add a little water to bring it to the desired consistency.
• Tahini Sauce will last in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you have leftover tahini sauce, it can be frozen for future use in a tightly sealed container. 
• Always taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. This is important for the patties and the tahini sauce. Salt to taste.
• Check calories for the tahini sauce HERE.

Where to Buy Bulgur Wheat

You can find fine bulgur wheat in a Middle Eastern Store, or you can use regular coarser bulgur wheat that you may find in your supermarket.

Storage Recommendations

• Dry bulgur wheat should be kept in an airtight container in a cool place. We prefer to store it in the fridge or freezer. Don't store Bulgur in cabinets directly over or next to your cooktop, it will go rancid.
• Cooked bulgur wheat patties should be refrigerated and kept for three to four days. They can also be frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Bulgur Wheat Be Crunchy?

Raw bulgur wheat, if it is stored correctly, will be crunchy until it is cooked. This is less noticeable with the finely ground variety. Cooked bulgur wheat is should not be crunchy. It should have a chewy texture.

What is a good substitute?

A good gluten-free substitute in many recipes would be brown rice, but not for this patty recipe. In that case, you should find a different vegan burger patty like these quinoa mushroom sliders.

Is bulgur wheat healthier than rice?

If you are using brown rice, is pretty much a toss-up. Bulgur wheat has more fiber and minerals, but whole-grain rice has more vitamins. If you are using white rice, bulgur is more nutritious.

Where is bulgur wheat in the grocery store?

Find coarse bulgur wheat in your local grocery store with the Bob's Red Mill specialty flours and grains. They are often found with organic ingredients or specialty grains. In the United States, specialty stores such as Middle Eastern markets carry fine bulgur wheat as well as coarse.

Can I freeze bulgur wheat patties?

Yes. Freeze patties, cooked, for up to 2 months in a sealed container or freezer bag.  Thaw patties and heat in a 200ºF oven. 

Bulgur Wheat Recipes

• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Tabouli Salad (Tabbouleh)- Authentic Recipe

What Inspired This Recipe

We've been all about fried foods recently. This recipe works perfectly for Hanukkah if you are tired of eating, hearing about, and reading about fried food.

Hanukkah is not over yet as we write this recipe, and we still have a few more days to go, but... we’re ready to take a little break from the whole oil thing. Are you?

If you agree, you'll probably love this recipe. To lighten things up, we’ve decided to “cheat” a little… In a good way.

How? We’re taking our mom’s classic recipe for bulgur wheat patties (one of our favorite treats as kids, which she usually fries), and we’re baking them instead. So the whole oil and frying theme is still there even though we’re not technically frying anything... It's kind of like a recipe makeover. Get it?   

Surprisingly, this lightened-up version is even better than the original. And we're not just saying that; even our mom agrees!

After all, that's what makeovers are all about, aren't they?