Eetch (Armenian Bulgur and Tomato Salad)
Local name: Իչ
In short: A bright red bulgur salad with tomato paste, peppers, onion, parsley and lemon, kneaded by hand and served with lettuce leaves. It takes about 38 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Resting
- 35 min
- Total
- 38 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 225 kcal
Eetch is the Armenian bulgur salad, softer and redder than tabbouleh, flavored with tomato and pepper paste instead of a heap of herbs. Fine bulgur swells in hot water with the pastes, then it is kneaded with soft onion, olive oil, diced tomato, pepper, parsley and lemon. It is a staple of picnics, fasting days and the cold appetizer table, usually scooped into lettuce leaves or lavash. It keeps well, so make it ahead.
Instructions
- Put the bulgur in a large bowl. Stir the hot water with the tomato paste, pepper paste and salt, pour it over the bulgur, cover and leave for 15 minutes until absorbed.
- Warm 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a small pan and cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Cool slightly.
- Add the onion to the bulgur and knead with your hands for 2 minutes, until the mixture holds together and is evenly red.
- Fold in the tomatoes, pepper, green onions, parsley, lemon juice, the remaining oil and the pomegranate molasses, if using. Taste and adjust the salt and lemon.
- Rest for 20 minutes so the flavors blend. Serve at room temperature or chilled, scooped onto lettuce leaves.
Tips
- Use fine bulgur, sold as number 1. If you only have coarse bulgur, soak it for 30 minutes in a little more hot water.
- Knead the bulgur with the onion and oil for a couple of minutes. This blends the flavors and gives eetch its characteristic texture.
Questions and answers
How is eetch different from tabbouleh?
Eetch is red from tomato and pepper paste and has relatively few herbs. Tabbouleh is mostly parsley with a little bulgur.
Can I make eetch ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and tastes better after a few hours. Add the lemon juice and parsley shortly before serving if you can.
How spicy is eetch?
Mild to medium, depending on the pepper paste. Add chili flakes if you want it hotter.
How long does it take to make Eetch (Armenian Bulgur and Tomato Salad)?
About 38 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 8 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Eetch (Armenian Bulgur and Tomato Salad)?
About 225 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 225 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
