Recipe: Vegetarian Mediterranean Grain Salad

Reminiscent of tabbouleh, this hearty salad combines bulgur wheat with grape tomatoes, parsley, and tangy goat cheese. Excellent at room temperature, this one-serving recipe is a great choice for a take-along lunch. Enjoy this satisfying vegetarian main: a generous bulgur salad with crumbled goat cheese and juicy tomatoes.

Ingredients

1/3 cup medium-grind bulgur

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 small shallot, minced

1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 ounce fresh goat cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. In a heatproof bowl, mix bulgur with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup boiling water. Cover, and let stand until tender but slightly chewy, about 30 minutes.
2. Drain bulgur in a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to remove liquid; return to bowl. Add tomatoes, parsley, shallot, vinegar, and oil. Season with salt and pepper, and toss. Top with cheese.

Cooking notes:
Bulgur is pre-cooked wheat that's been dried and cracked. It has a nutty taste and is sold alongside rice in many supermarkets.