Have you ever heard of the burgol? If you haven't, don't worry, we'll tell you all the details about this food that comes from wheat, and that sometimes it is confused with couscous. A cereal full of properties and very versatile that Arab gastronomy has provided us.
What is the burgol?
El burgol (or bulgur) is a very popular food in Arab cuisine that is obtained from wheat. Made from different varieties of this cereal, the tender grains are cooked and left to dry for several days. They are then crushed until break it down to chunks y they sift. From its elaboration we can obtain three different varieties: coarse, fine and very fine.
The way of cooking it is very similar to couscous or rice. Each variety has its cooking time. Also, if you soak it overnight, there's no need to cook it, as the moisture it absorbs makes it edible. Until recently this food could only be found in specialized stores, such as herbalists, but it is currently available in any establishment feeding.
A versatile food
El burgol It is a versatile food that can be used in any recipe. When we see it for the first time couscous will come to mind. Although they are very similar in appearance, they are different things. The first is obtained after cooking and subsequent drying of wheat grains. Instead, the second is obtained from durum wheat semolina. This is ground until a flour is obtained, which after kneading it with water, is transformed into a granulated product.
Widely used in the Middle Eastern cuisine, especially in Lebanon, where it is one of the foods par excellence, countless dishes can be made with it. The best known is perhaps el tabbouleh, a rich salad of cereals and aromatic herbs. By westernizing its use, we can use it in any preparation in our recipe book, since it is a food that goes with everything.
Burgol properties and benefits
One of the most interesting aspects of this product is that, although it has been pre-cooked and dried, keeps about 90% of the bran. Thanks to this, all the nutrients of this food are preserved. This ingredient is a magnificent source of fiber, which makes it essential in diets to lose weight or maintain shape. Compared to brown rice, a serving of the latter contains more fat and calories than burgol.
Likewise, it contains minerals such as potassium, calcium and vitamins A, B, K and E. In addition, it stands out for being rich in carbohydrates, which makes it a food suitable for athletes. In turn, it allows to control blood sugar levels and is an ally for patients with heart disease. On the other hand, because it maintains the nutritional composition of wheat, It is not suitable for celiac people.
A Little History
Although little known in Western culture, it is the most used cereal in North Africa and the Middle East. Even so, there is evidence of its use by the Roman and Israelite civilizations, and it is even named as arisah in the Bible. There are different studies that affirm that the burgol, or foods prepared in the same way, could have been the humanity's first processed food, since there is evidence of its use for four thousand years.
Throughout the centuries, its use has been limited to those territories, but in the In recent decades, it has accelerated. As we have already mentioned, it can be purchased now in any establishment. In recent years, chefs of the stature of Alain Ducasse and Juan Mari Arzak have begun to discover the versatility of this product, making it more and more known.
As we have seen, the burgol It is a rich and versatile food. An easy to use ingredient that gives great results. To finish, say that it is conserved in a fresh and dry place, being able to freeze it and use it whenever you want. Now that you know more, are you going to find out?
