While bulgur wheat usually takes centre stage in a grainy salad, this high-fibre, quick-cooking grain can do so much more. Try these beet bulgurs, layered into stuffed peppers or tomatoes or simply serve it as a tasty, healthy side dish with dinner tonight.

Stuffed tomatoes with pine nuts

Whip up these feel-good bulgur-stuffed tomatoes for a simple supper the whole family will love. Serve with a cooling yoghurt dressing and a basic green salad. It’s a filling midweek meal and everyone will be requesting seconds. Boil the bulgur wheat in water for 10-15 mins, or put in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20-30 mins, until the water is absorbed and the grains are tender. Soaking the bulgur will give you a chewier texture, which is perfect for salads like tabbouleh or for stuffing tomatoes and peppers. It is best boiled from raw for soups and stews. Use your imagination when it comes to the extra ingredients. We suggest onion, garlic, veggies, all topped off with cheese and pine nuts.

Bulgur salad

Jazz up the basic grain with all manner of colours and flavours. From charred aubergine, pepper and bulgur salad to tomato, onion and bulgur dip, the options are endless. Charring the aubergine brings out deeper, more complex flavours, and you can add whatever veg you like to this versatile recipe. Try red peppers, olives and sundried tomatoes for a Mediterranean-style dish. Bulgur wheat is a cracked wheat made by blanching groats (the hulled kernels of the grains) which are then crushed into smaller fragments. It’s commonly used in Middle Eastern dishes such as stews and salads, or simmered in milk for a pudding or porridge.

Bulgur wheat beet burgers

Bulgur wheat is a source of magnesium, manganese, vitamin B and iron. It’s also high in fibre as it’s made from a whole grain. It contains gluten, so should be avoided by people with coeliac disease. But if you fancy an alternative to the standard beef burger then try these beet burgers! Cook the bulgur and simply replace the meat in a normal homemade burger recipe with the wheat substitute. The other ingredients can remain the same although try adding crushed or finely chopped beetroot to add a touch of pink and keep things interesting!