Kisir: A vibrant, tangy Turkish salad made with quinoa or bulgur, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a flavorful pomegranate-tomato-red pepper dressing. You’re going to love it!
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It costs approximately $9.13 to make this kisir recipe. The recipe makes 6 servings and costs around $1.52 per serving.
Table of Contents
What is Turkish Kisir?
Traditional Kisir salad is made up of small bulgur, red pepper paste, tomato paste, and fresh vegetables like cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes. Nothing more, nothing less.
I’ve enjoyed many different versions of kisir, and they all taste lovely. I thought, why not swap out bulgur for healthier quinoa?
By all means, I do not want to undermine the traditional kisir salad. I simply want to eat healthier. But it all comes down to personal preference. Use traditional bulgur or quinoa for a healthier and heartier twist. Honestly, it can be nerve-racking to put a modern twist on something so traditional.
What I Love About Kisir
- Serving versatility: I love this salad because you can serve it as a side or main dish. When I serve it as a main dish, I put it in lettuce leaves.
- Fresh ingredients: The chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley add a refreshing touch and bright pops of color to the salad.
- Easy to make: This recipe requires minimal prep and cooking time, making it perfect for weeknight meals or light lunches.
Again, I like to make a separate paste that contains the onions, garlic, pastes, and spices. I mix it well before transferring it to the cooked quinoa. Then, I ditch the whisk and use either my hands to massage the quinoa until seasoned well or I use a spoon.
I must say, it’s much more fun to use my hands!
Ingredients and Estimated Cost:
- 1 ½ cups quinoa OR medium size bulgur wheat – $1.92
- 3 cups water – $0.00
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt – $0.01
- 2 Tablespoons pomegranate molasses – $0.32
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste – $0.20
- 1 Tablespoon red pepper paste – $0.42
- 1 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil – $0.24
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano – $0.12
- ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder – $0.02
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt – $0.01
- Pepper to taste – $0.01
- ½ cup onion – $1.62
- 1 cup tomatoes – $0.72
- 1 cup Persian cucumbers – $1.00
- ½ cup parsley – $0.44
- 10 mint leaves – $2.08
The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the prices for this recipe in May 2024.
How To Make Kisir
- Add the cooked and cooled quinoa to a bowl and set it aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, make the kisir paste by adding pomegranate molasses, tomato paste, red pepper paste, onion, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, oregano, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well until a thick paste-like sauce forms.
- Next, add the paste mixture to the quinoa and mix with your hands or a spoon for 2-3 minutes to ensure every grain is fully coated.
- Then, add the parsley and mix to combine.
- When ready to serve, add the chopped tomatoes and cucumbers and give it a gentle toss.
- Serve cold or keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Tips
Tip 1: Make sure to remove the insides of the tomatoes. This will prevent your salad from being too soggy with excess juices.
Tip 2: Use bulgur for a traditional Kisir recipe or quinoa for a healthier twist.
Tip 3: Chop your tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions to the same size. The uniformity will provide the best eating experience because each spoonful will contain all of the ingredients—resulting in one flavorful bite!
Variations
- Swap out the tomatoes for the sweet red pepper. I understand that not everyone likes tomatoes. In this case, red pepper will give the same look and a nice crunch.
- Use fresh mint or dried mint. Both are delicious in the dish, so use what you have!
- Use red pepper paste or tomato paste. I enjoy the combination of both. However, if you are unable to reach one of them, feel free to double up on one of them.
To Store
This is the perfect make-ahead dish to bring to any gathering. The longer it sits, the better it gets! Remember, do not add the tomatoes and cucumbers until the day of for optimal freshness. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
More Salads
Read the recipe from start to finish. You will better understand the flow of the recipe and identify any unfamiliar words or methods.
Shop for the ingredients beforehand. When you shop ahead, you are less likely to swap out ingredients for what you don’t have, thus creating a complete recipe fail!
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Kisir
Recipe Cost 9.13 Serving Cost 1.52
Recipe Cost $ 9.13 Serving Cost $ 1.52Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked quinoa or bulgur That's roughly 2 cups of quinoa + 2 cups of water cooked in the instant pot for 10 minutes.
- 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp red pepper paste
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon zest of, juice of
- 1 cup onion (about 1 small onion) finely chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried mint
- ¼ tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves minced fresh garlic
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- pepper to taste
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 cup tomatoes (about 3-4 Roma tomatoes) seeds and innards removed, small dice
- 1 cup Persian cucumbers (about 3-4 Persian cucumbers) small dice
Instructions
- Add the cooked and cooled quinoa or bulgur to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the pomegranate molasses, tomato paste, red pepper paste, onion, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, oregano, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing bowl. Mix well until a thick paste-like sauce forms.
- Mix really well until a thick paste-like sauce forms.
- Next, add the paste/sauce to the quinoa and massage generously with your hands or a spoon. I like to massage for 2-3 minutes to ensure every grain is fully coated to its full potential.
- Then, add the parsley. Mix and combine.
- When ready to serve, add the chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. Give a gentle toss.
- Serve cold or keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
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