If you’re bored of oats, you need to get a load of this bulgur porridge. Same principle, different result!
You probably know bulgur wheat from salads and the like – but I bet you’ve never considered it as a porridge alternative!
We tried it a while back with this mango bulgur porridge, and we were immediately in love. Warm, creamy and filling, it’s a refreshing change from oats, but just as delicious… if not more!
This time round we’re serving it up with stewed rhubarb, for a sweet, tart and fruity breakfast that you’ll love!
Bulgur Porridge – you are what you wheat!
So what’s this bulgur wheat stuff about anyway? If you’ve heard of it, I’ll bet you anything it was in a tabbouleh recipe, not a bulgur breakfast recipe. Am I right?
If you haven’t tried it before, it’s basically a cracked wheat which is made by blanching the kernels of grains and crushing them into small fragments.
In order to prepare it, you boil the kernels until they are chewy (best for salads like tabbouleh) or mushy, which is best for oat free porridge.
Bulgur is a wholegrain, meaning it is healthier and more nutritious than refined grains. Whole grains are basically grains that have not been stripped of its bran and germ, which are where lots of their nutrients are stored.
This also means they are generally higher in fibre than refined grains. This means that, like normal porridge, this is a VERY filling breakfast, so a great choice if you are trying to lose weight. Why, you ask? Well, you’ll just have to check out our vegetarian weight loss e-book to find out!
Bulgur is high in magnesium, manganese, vitamin B and iron! Good stuff to start your day off, eh?
That said, if you’re not convinced by the wonders of bulgur, we’ve got porridge recipes a plenty on the site – such as this delicious mocha oatmeal, or our super healthy ironman oatmeal!
Rhubarb stew: your fave pie meets your new fave porridge
What really makes this bulgur porridge POP is the stewed rhubarb on top! Rhubarb, raisins and cinnamon boiled down to a soft, tart but sweet stew, to be served hot and steaming on top of your porridge, sprinkled with chopped almonds.
I associate rhubarb with puddings – rhubarb crumble, or rhubarb and strawberry pie. But it’s super yummy to have a rhubarb breakfast as well.
I like that I get the nostalgic flavour from crumbles I ate as a kid, but in the form of a healthy rhubarb porridge!
By the way, fun fact! Did you know that rhubarb leaves are super poisonous? Yeah, they contain oxalic acid which causes kidney failure in humans.
Granted you’d have to eat quite a lot of them (roughly 11 lbs) to actually, ahem, expire… but still! Stick to the stalks!
Well, granted we haven’t scared you off… we hope you enjoy this rhubarb and bulgur porridge!
Rinse the bulgur with cold water until the liquid comes out clean.
⅔ cup bulgur
In a pot bring the soy milk with the bulgur and salt to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until soft.
1 ⅓ cup soy milk, ¼ tsp salt
Chop the rhubarb into small pieces (around ½ inch or 1 cm).
6 oz rhubarb
In a small pot add the rhubarb, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and water. Cook over medium low heat until the rhubarb releases its liquid and makes a syrupy sauce, about 8 minutes.
1 tbsp raisins, ½ tsp cinnamon, 2 tbsp sugar, ⅛ tsp baking soda, ¼ cup water
Add the bulgur to two bowls. Top with rhubarb sauce, chopped almonds. Add more soy milk, if you prefer.
2 tbsp almonds
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Vegan Bulgur Porridge with Sweet Rhubarb
Amount per Serving
Calories
376
% Daily Value*
Fat
9
g
14
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Sodium
521
mg
23
%
Potassium
796
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
65
g
22
%
Fiber
13
g
54
%
Sugar
18
g
20
%
Protein
13
g
26
%
Vitamin A
711
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
19
mg
23
%
Calcium
345
mg
35
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad is light, refreshing, and super versatile! Enjoy it as a veggie side dish, or use it as a topping for tacos, salads, sandwiches, and more. This healthy salad comes together quickly and requires just a few ingredients. It’s great for hot summer picnics and cold winter afternoons.
I know coleslaw is typically a dish served in the summertime, but cabbage and limes are in season this month! I’m calling this recipe a Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad, although it’s similar to a slaw. This zesty winter salad will brighten up any meal you add it to. It’s great by itself as a snack or side dish and can also be enjoyed as a topping for all your Mexican-inspired meals.
Why You’ll Love This Refreshing Cabbage Salad Recipe
It’s easy to make – The dressing comes together quickly in the blender, and if you have a food processor or mandolin, the cabbage can also be shredded quickly. I like to let my salad sit for a bit in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to develop, but you can also enjoy it right away.
It’s flavorful and refreshing – Cabbage is already cool and refreshing, but adding the cilantro and lime flavors takes it to the next level. I enjoy this salad anytime, but it’s especially great for a summer BBQ.
It’s versatile – This cabbage salad is similar to a slaw and can be used similarly. I enjoy this salad as a side dish, but I also like to eat it on tacos or with beans and rice. It adds a cool and refreshing bite to everything you add it to.
Why Your Body Will Love This Recipe
Reduced Inflammation – Cabbage is high in antioxidants, which are substances that can help delay or prevent cell damage. Antioxidants are important because they help reduce inflammation inside the body and improve the immune system. Excess inflammation in the body can be responsible for all kinds of sicknesses, including cancer and heart disease.
Digestive Health – Cabbage is in the Crusifers family, along with broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Some people are extra sensitive to these veggies and develop gas and bloating after eating them. However, they’re full of fiber, which really helps digestion run smoothly. Cabbage is also a low-calorie food, but a little goes a long way toward helping our bodies feel full for longer.
Diabetes Management – Please check with your doctor before adding cilantro to your diet if you have diabetes or low blood sugar levels. Cilantro, or coriander, can help reduce blood sugar by stimulating an enzyme that removes sugar from the blood.
Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad Recipe Ingredients
Cabbage – I used one medium-sized head of green cabbage for this recipe. I love cabbage because it’s crunchy and refreshing. You could also use purple or napa cabbage. Of course, if you go the purple route, it will change the look of this salad.
Cilantro Lime Dressing – This homemade dressing is packed full of flavor and takes no time to whip together. It uses cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, dijon mustard, maple syrup, cumin and salt. If you don’t like cilantro, I suggest using parsley in its place.
How To Make This Crunchy Cabbage Salad
Cut the stalk of the cabbage off and peel off a few of the outer layers. Thinly shred the entire head of cabbage and add it to a large bowl. You can shred your cabbage using a sharp knife, mandolin, or food processor.
Add all of the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy and completely combined, 30 seconds – 1 minute. Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and mix together well until the cabbage is completely coated with the dressing.
Add in about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and mix well. You can enjoy salad immediately or store it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to develop. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Enjoy as a side salad, as a topping for tacos, or with tortilla chips.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is already vegan and gluten-free.
Can I use a substitute in place of cilantro? Yes, if you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley instead.
What is the best type of cabbage for this recipe? I used green cabbage, which worked great, but you can also use napa or purple cabbage if you like.
How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last about 4-5 days.
How should this recipe be enjoyed? I like to eat this cabbage salad as a side dish or afternoon snack. You can also use it like you would any kind of slaw (tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more).
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will reply ASAP!
This Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad is light, refreshing and super versatile! Enjoy as a veggie side dish, or use it as a topping for tacos, salads, sandwiches and more. This healthy salad comes together quickly and only requires a few ingredients. It’s great for hot summer picnics, as well as cold winter afternoons.
Ingredients
1 medium sized head green cabbage, about 6–8 cups once shredded
Cilantro Lime Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
1/2 cup packed cilantro
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper, to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Cut the stalk of the cabbage off and then peel a few of the outer layers off. Thinly shred the entire head of cabbage and then add to a large bowl. You can shred your cabbage using a sharp knife, mandolin or food processor.
Add all of the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy and completely combined, 30 seconds – 1 minute. Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and mix together well, until cabbage is completely coated with dressing.
Add in about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and mix well. You can enjoy salad immediately, or store in the refrigerator for a couple hours to allow the flavors to develop. Store in an air-tight container, in the refrigerator, for 4-5 days. Enjoy as a side salad, as a topping for tacos or enjoy with tortilla chips.