Skip to content

Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Turkish style green beans with bulgur pilaf

Turkish style green beans are a vegetarian dish of green beans simmered in olive oil, tomato and onion, served with bulgur pilaf. It takes 50 minutes for 4 people, rated very easy, at €1.60 per serving. The trick is a slow, covered simmer that softens the beans while keeping their bright green color.

Green beans simmered in olive oil, tomato and onion the Turkish way, served with a simple bulgur pilaf.

Turkish style green beans with bulgur pilaf
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall

These green beans aren't crisp, they're soft and almost melting in a tomato sauce perked up with garlic and onion. Generous olive oil and a touch of sugar round out the tomato's acidity, giving a warm, comforting flavor that's a nice change from plain steamed beans.

It's an easy weeknight dish that simmers on its own while you do something else. The bulgur pilaf makes it filling and soaks up the sauce nicely. Make it for a vegetarian family dinner in summer or fall, when green beans and tomatoes are still at their best.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green beans 800 g
  • Onions 2
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Tomatoes 4

Pantry

  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 8 tbsp
  • Bulguroften in the pantry 300 g
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 20 g

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Trim the green beans and cut them in half.

    Snap them by hand, it's quicker and cleaner.

  2. Cook the onion in the oil, then add the garlic and tomato paste. 6 min

    Let the paste caramelize slightly before adding the next ingredients.

  3. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, and half a glass of water.

    A little sugar rounds out the acidity of the tomatoes.

  4. Cover and let simmer over very low heat. 30 min

    The beans are ready when they're tender and have lost their crunch.

  5. Cook the bulgur in the butter with twice its volume of salted water, let it swell, then serve. 12 min

    Fluff with a fork at the end of cooking.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm, fresh green beans, they hold up better through the long simmer without falling apart completely.
  • Taste the sauce before covering the pan, it's the right moment to adjust salt or sugar depending on how acidic your tomatoes are.
  • Avoid lifting the lid too often while it simmers, every peek lets out steam and stretches out the cooking time.

The variations

  • Swap fresh tomatoes for a can of chopped tomatoes out of season, the result stays very close to the original.
  • Add drained chickpeas along with the beans for a more filling, protein rich version.
  • Swap the bulgur for rice if you want a gluten free version or it's what you have on hand.

What to serve it with

  • Cool plain yogurt
  • Flatbread for scooping
  • Lemon water

Storage

The beans keep for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, stored separately from the bulgur. They freeze well for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a saucepan, adding a splash of water if needed.

Questions about this dish

Can you use frozen green beans?

Yes, let them thaw slightly before adding them to the sauce. Shorten the simmering time a bit since they're already partly cooked and will soften faster.

Can you make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, the beans taste even better reheated the next day, once the flavors have had time to blend. Cook the bulgur just before serving so it stays fluffy.

Why add sugar to the tomato sauce?

A touch of sugar balances the natural acidity of the tomatoes, especially if they're not perfectly ripe. You can skip it if your tomatoes are already sweet.

Can you swap the bulgur for something else?

Rice or couscous both work well instead of bulgur. Pick a grain that soaks up sauce easily so you don't lose any of the dish's flavor.

How long does it take to make Turkish style green beans with bulgur pilaf?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in Turkish style green beans with bulgur pilaf?

About 630 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does Turkish style green beans with bulgur pilaf cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Maghreb and Middle Eastern cuisine

See all

Recipes with green beans

See all