Bulgur patties - Crispy bulgur burgers

Regulars on my blog know that I have been cribbing endlessly about the heat in Bombay. I have almost forgotten how to make perfect round rotis, because it's clearly been a while since I made them. That doesn't mean I've been hogging rice for all my meals, which would have been the best thing to happen to me.

Bulgur is called Lapsi or Dalia in India and it is the perfect substitute for rotis. After all, it is the same wheat in another form.We often eat this with traditional Tambram accompaniments like Sambhar, Koottu and even yogurt. With the strong flavours of the accompaniments, we hardly miss the rice. Since then, I have taken for granted that I can substitute lapsi for rice just about anywhere and get away with it. After having tried rice patties with left over rice in my early blogging days, this recipe came to my mind today. It's wheat plus veggies in one dish, served with a portion of salad and it is a whole meal without any slaving over the stove and sweating it out making rotis.

Ingredients
1 cup cooked bulgur (1/2 cup dried, medium grain)
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 chilli sliced
1 tbsp gram flour
1 tbsp semolina
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp chopped mint
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Juice of a lime
1/2 tsp salt / to taste
Pinch of turmeric powder

Sliced shallots and thawed frozen peas for garnish

1 tbsp oil to grease pan

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Knead well to release flavours from spices and herbs. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or so.

Shape into patties of 3-4 cm diameter, about 1/2 inch thick.

Heat a non stick pan. Grease it with cooking oil.

Place 3-4 patties at a time on the medium hot skillet and let each side cook for about 3-4 minutes until crispy and brown.

Flip them over and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Garnish with sliced shallots and serve hot.

Notes:

• This can be served with a green salad as a light dinner.
• These bulghur patties also make great finger food for a party, and hey no deep frying too!
• If you don't mind wheat in wheat, then nothing can stop you from building a burger around these spicy, yummy beauties!
• You can make the same recipe with left over rice. Take care that the rice isn't too dried out or the patties wont hold their shape. If the rice has turned dry, then you can sprinkle some water and microwave it for a minute until soft.
• Since bulgur has a low glycemic index of 46, it is very good for diabetics as a substitute for rice. The high fiber and low GI causes gradual rise in blood sugar.
• How to cook broken wheat? -Wash the bulghur well several times in running water in a colander. Soak it in 1 1/2 cups of hot water for 15 minutes. After this, you can microwave the bulghur in the same water for 3-4 minutes on HIGH or pressure cook until you hear one whistle. 1/2 cup dried broken wheat yields over a cup of cooked grain.
• For difference between bulgur and cracked wheat, read here.