Intro to Bulk Cooking: Grains and a Mediterranean Chicken Bulgur Bowl [Clean]

Trying to make your meals quicker? Try cooking in bulk to help! I’ve also got a quick recipe to help you use some of your bulk grains, vegetables, etc! This technique can help you stay on track with your goals and stay eating healthy.

So, disclaimer. I was trying to figure out what to write about next and I cam across this draft that was essentially written and ready to be published shortly after I started my blog almost 4 years ago now. Crazy to think it’s been that long! I figured the information about bulk cooking would still be very useful to many and the throw back to what I was thinking around that time would be fun for you guys to read. 

As another aside, I get tons of questions about how I can make my meals so quick and stay healthy with the craziness of my life. The main thing that really helps me is cooking in bulk and freezing the leftovers after separating them into serving sizes. I love doing this with grains, veggies, meats, meals you name it! It’s a great time saving hack that I hope is useful for someone else, as well. Now to the throwback post:

I’ve been slowing telling people about my blog. Here’s how part of the conversation went with my brother:

HIM: So..anything new and exciting happening lately?

**Side note: In general, this is a terrible question to ask someone in medical school, or in their intern year.

This question always dumbfounded me. In med school, no joke, I’m embarrassed to say my answer was once “umm..well… I mean I’ve been playing musical chairs lately while trying to study? To the silence on the other side of the line..which in retrospect was the person probably going ‘you have got to be kidding me’ and me being all like ‘oh man looks like I need to explain musical chair studying..the fun and new game I’ve developed to entertain myself while studying!” You see, every so often I switch which chair in my apartment I’m sitting into study. That’s probably the most exciting thing that’s going on right now. That counts right?”

ME: Well…you see..I’ve started this blog.

HIM: Oh..and how’s that going?

ME: I have no idea what I’m doing

HIM: You know I sort of know about these sorts of things, at least on the marketing side. I do do marketing, you know. Want me to dig out an old book of mine?

ME: I don’t think I’ll be able to read it

HIM: Why? Because it doesn’t have any pictures?

True story. GAH, and so right. I mean come on, books with pictures are wayyyy better. I should also note that I still am very much a child. Some proof may lie in my Easter post…

Anyway, I don’t have time for that stuff right now any way unfortunately.

A question I get asked a lot is how do you have time to make all your meals? The main answer to this question is having a bunch of stuff precooked and either in my fridge, or in my freezer ready to use. This way I don’t have to spend a bunch of time cooking, I can just throw meals together in minutes rather than half hours+. Let me give you one example. So, I like to make grain bowls. They are easy and simple. I’ll be sharing some recipes down the road I’m sure. It pains me to know there are so many yummy bowls that I have made in the past that I’m not sure if I’ll be able to remember to reproduce and give to you.

Recently, I made a batch of bulgur to throw into grain bowls.

-I started with 1 cup of bulgur and a whole lotta water. (I always opt for extra because 1. you can always drain what is remaining, 2. If you let it sit, more of the water will be soaked up by the grain and you’ll get more bulk).

-I put probably between 3 and 3.5 cups and set on the stove to boil. Once it boils, turn down to simmer and let it go for about 30 minutes. In this time, prep something else, or do another task. Set a timer to remember for you!

-After 30 minutes, test it to see if it is done. If done, turn of the stove and LET IT SIT! The longer the better because of the bulking action.

-Once all the way cool, separate in to desired portions.

And there you have it, now I have the base for 7 meals in the time it too. These are easy to defrost, individual portions that make whipping up a meal super quick and efficient! Stay tuned for other ways to increase your efficiency in the kitchen!

Do you have any meal prep saving tricks up your sleeve?

Does anybody else do this?

So there you go! That was my throw back post haha. Turns out yes, I did end up sharing quite a few grain bowls over the past few years. Here are a few of the dishes that include bulgur in case you are interested!

Print

Intro to Bulk Cooking Grains and a Mediterranean Chicken Bulgur Bowl [Clean]

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword 10 ingredients or less, artichoke, bulgur, chicken, cleaneating, grain bowl, mozzarella cheese, pesto, sundried tomato

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings 1 bowl

Author AZ@…And A Dash of Cinnamon

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked bulgur
• 2 oz cooked chicken
• 1/2 T pesto
• 1 sundried tomato
• 3 quartered artichoke hearts
• 1 T mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Toss your prepared cooked bulgur in a microwavable safe bowl and defrost.

2. Meanwhile, shred your chicken into small pieces if not already done so and cut up your sundried tomato and artichoke hearts

3. Once your bulgur has thawed, stir in your chicken, sundried tomato, artichoke heart and pesto to the bulgur

4. Top with your cheese and microwave for an additonal 30 seconds, or until cheese is melted

Recipe Notes

If you don’t have your bulgur and chicken already cooked it’s alright! You can make your bulgur and chicken on the stove at the same time. Shred your chicken towards the end and then mix in the remainder of the ingredients until hot! Easy peasy. You got this 🙂

 

This recipe is easily multiplied it to make it for more than one bowl. 

I link up with Deborah and Sarah’s, and  the fit foodie mama’s Meatless Monday, What’s for Dinner

Follow my blog with Bloglovin