The Turkish bulgur salad that includes walnuts, pomegranate molasses, and herbs is Kısır. It is a cold or room-temperature Turkish meze made primarily from fine bulgur, parsley, tomato paste, and usually onion or scallions.
The bulgur is typically softened with hot water rather than boiled like rice. Tomato or red-pepper paste gives Kısır its red color, while pomegranate molasses contributes a distinctive sweet-sour flavor. Lemon juice, olive oil, mint, cucumber, spices, and walnuts may vary by household or region.
Kısır is often compared with Lebanese tabbouleh, but the balance is different: Kısır is bulgur-forward and paste-rich, while tabbouleh is generally more herb-forward. It is also not the same as çiğ köfte, another Turkish bulgur specialty that is kneaded into a spiced mixture and may historically have included raw meat. Kısır is commonly served with lettuce leaves and appears at Turkish gatherings, tea tables, and meze spreads.