During the hottest part of summer, I find solace in things like cold showers, air conditioned coffee shops, and popsicles. I barely feel like eating, let alone cooking, but since popsicles really don’t really qualify as a meal I make good use out of leftovers that can be eaten cold.
In my fridge had a few leftover grilled veggies along with some bulgur wheat and Akkawi cheese, so I threw them all together in what turned out to be a fantastic lunch. If you’re not familiar with Akkawi, it is a white, mild-flavored cheese originally from Palestine that can be found at Middle Eastern markets. It has a slightly salty flavor with a creamy mouth feel, and it crumbles nicely; to me, it’s sort-of like a cross between feta and ricotta salata. You can use any cheese you like though.
Leftover Grilled Veggie & Bulgur Wheat Lunch
Serves 1
Any mix of veggies you have, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used grilled zucchini, yellow summer squash, and roasted red bell peppers)
1 serving grain/pasta (I used bulgur wheat, but brown rice, quinoa, barley, couscous, or anything else would work)
1/2 oz crumbled or cubed cheese (I used Akkawi, but feta, queso fresco, ricotta salata, blue, or anything else would work)
A small handful of fresh green herbs, chopped (I used a combo of chives and mint)
A small handful of toasted seeds/nuts (I used sunflower seeds)
Olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste
Toss together all ingredients and serve immediately.
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Perfect lunch for these 100 degree days!
looks especially tasty..:P
Tasty Appetite
One of my fav ways to make lunch! love :)
A great way of using leftovers! That refined salad is awesome.
Cheers,
Rosa
This looks like the perfect little brunch!
Mmm, what a great way to use up leftover veggies that doesn’t require turning anything on! During these hot days, that definitely sounds good :)
As someone who loved cheese, I must look for Akkawi – it sounds delicious! Have a great week, Faith!
P.S. I love the new look of your blog!
That looks really interesting…and that too with leftovers! I loved the way how you prepared it. The instructions are stepwise and easy. The dish is truly tempting!!
I love new ways for using bulgar. Normally you just see it being used for tabouli, but it is really so versatile.
*kisses* HH
Yum! I’m all about cold salads in the summer. Ive never heard of Akkawi before, but your description makes it sound amazing. i will be keeping an eye out for it!
Just gorgeous pictures!!! Love it!! Salad looks fabulous.
I love throwing together quick and easy meals like that! Great use of leftovers faith!
An excellent quick meal and healthy too which is great! I would love to find this Akkawi cheese to try!
Bulgur is a fave of mine but I can,t seem to remember to include it enough in my meals. This is a great cool salad, quick and chill are the keys here ;-)
I love how customizable this is. And the sunflower seeds you added look so yummy :)
Leftovers done right. I’ll take a plate.
Be well
What a delicious way to use the leftover!
Delicious looking and healthy lunch…great use of leftovers :)
Great use of leftovers, looks fantastic! Perfect dish for this hot weather.
Such delicious flavors ~ innovative use of leftovers I must say!
US Masala
I’m in a cooking funk this summer…maybe it’s due to the heat! I need to give up and just get by this summer. Or find really simple recipes, like this!
Hmmm, that sounds very, very delicious!
Gaaah, it\’s hard to look at this photo when I\’m already starving! Can\’t wait to supper now…
This looks SO good!
A great reason to save leftover veggies. Looks healthy and delicious.
Your leftovers look fabulous!
Faith, I’ll swap you some warm weather and this dish for our cold weather any day! :D
Hearty brunch. It is really healthy and also delicious
Delicious! My favorite meals of summer are the beautiful cold salads, that make the heat tolerable.
Mimi
This is my kind of meal – I love the flavours!
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
wait…popsicles don’t count as a meal?!?!? Says who?
Does that mean ice cream doesn’t count either? Oy.
I love the sound of this dish and I wish I had all these leftovers in my fridge!
Joanne, Lol, says my mom. :( I really wish she hadn’t drilled that into my head as a kid, lol! Hope you’re having a great week, sweetie!
This would make a perfect meal for me too. It’s even too hot to want to go to the store for food! How lucky you are to have such a wonderful cheese to use for this.
I love these sort of meals. left overs can often taste better than the original. Diane
Hah! A non-salad salad! Perfect. And healthy.
looks healthy and delicious…i have not heard of akkawi before….
Mmm, I love cold foods in summer too. :-) Last night I made a dinner of salads and loved it. Your leftovers one sounds fantastic, Faith! :-)
I keep meaning to try bulgur wheat but never get round to it. This looks like a perfect quick weekday lunch – far superior to a sandwich!
One of my fav ways to eat lunch..from leftovers!! Love the pictures Faith..all of them! :)
Now tell me why does “I barely feel like eating” never happen to me?! This looks like a simple & perfect healthy lunch or dinner Faith. Great photos too :)
what a great idea! this looks like something I get from the whole foods salad bar that I LOVE!
hi faith,
this really looks and sound yummmy- flavorful and healthy
a simple one dish meal, would love to try this out …thanks
This is totally my kind of lunch. I am going to have to make this! I love all the grains and nutrition packed in one dish. Beautiful photos too, as always.
i love the texture and toothsomeness (new word?) of bulgur, so this’d be a lunch i’d really enjoy. stellar use of those leftovers, faith!
What an awesome idea! It’s a great way to make use of your leftovers and make an amazing meal! I’ll have to remember that! :)
Looks like a great dish and a good way to use up leftovers. ery economical too :)
Love that you turned those leftover grilled veggies into a totally different, creative, and delicious dish. The presentation alone would have me digging into this and finishing it in no time flat. Best of all, it’s healthy too. I’ve never heard of Akkawi before. Thank you for introducing it to.