This gorgeous salad recipe stars bulgur wheat bolstered by herbs, olive oil, orange and lemon, and minced chopped onion. Olives are optional, but I love the salty punch they add. The ingredient list for this salad is short, but the salad packs so much flavor! This is a great big-batch salad to make, and leftovers are delicious the next day. You can also add some sliced or cubed grilled chicken or baked chicken breasts if you want to turn this into a chicken bulgur salad.

Bulgur wheat is a nutritious, high-in-fiber whole grain and is a great base for this very hearty and satisfying grain salad that will keep you sated for hours. It’s completely simple to make (if you can make rice, you can make bulgur wheat), and once you have a container of cooked bulgur in the fridge, a salad like this one is but minutes away.

Serve with Grilled New York Strip Steak, Mediterranean Pork Loin, Tandoori Chicken Skewers, or Grilled Vegetable Kebabs.

Bulgur Wheat Salad: A vibrant, healthy salad perfect for potlucks, picnics, cookouts, and great to keep in the fridge for quick lunches.

Bulgur Salad Ingredients

• Bulgur wheat – Get essential tips for cooking bulgur wheat on the stove.
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Basil, Parsley, and Oregano – You must use fresh herbs here — dried simply won’t do.
• Lemon and orange – You will use both the zest and juice from each citrus fruit.
• Red onion – I like the color of red onion, but you can use whatever onion you have.
• Olives – I used black olives, but you can use any olives you like.

Variations

There are a lot of ways to keep going with this salad. You can add grated or crumbed cheeses, like Parmesan, feta or queso, or goat cheese. Think about switching up the citrus choices (lime instead of lemon). You can also include some diced tomatoes, cucumbers, or avocado.

Herbs in Bulgur Salad

During the summer when fresh herbs are in abundance, this is a great way to highlight them. I chose basil, parsley and oregano, but you can use any herbs you like. Think about dill, thyme, marjoram, or sage. Taste as you add — some herbs, like sage or rosemary, can become too much in large quantities. Start small, and add to taste.

How to Make Bulgur Wheat Salad

1. Combine the ingredients: Place the bulgur wheat in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, basil, parsley, oregano, lemon, and orange zest and juice, onion, olives, salt, and pepper.

2. Toss and serve: Toss to blend well. Serve at room temperature.

Storage and Leftovers

This salad is best the day it is made because of the fresh herbs. but it will keep for a day or two in the refrigerator. Give it a fluff before serving.

What to Serve With Bulgur Wheat Salad

This bulgur salad is a great anchor to a vegetarian meal.

Caponata

Mushroom, Tomato, and White Bean Ragout

Grilled Vegetables

More Grain Salads

• Bulgur Wheat with Caramelized Onions and Parsley
• Classic Tabbouleh
• Millet Salad with Greens
• Greek Tabbouleh Salad
• Quinoa Salad