Recipe: Nutty Freekeh Tabbouleh

Time to get your freekeh on! Say what?! If you don’t know this ancient grain, it’s high time you do.

A longtime staple of Middle Eastern cooking, freekeh is a form of wheat that’s harvested while young and cooked over an open fire. The grain has a nutty, earthy flavor and is loaded with protein and fiber, which makes for a nutritious and completely delicious tabbouleh.

Along with freekeh, this dish contains cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, mint, lemon juice and scallions, which makes for or a crunchy summer salad that explodes with flavor and is deeply nourishing. Bring it to a gathering or make it for your family … and then get ready to make it again soon!

Ingredients

1/2 cup cracked freekeh
1 cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
2 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the freekeh, cover tightly, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the water is absorbed and the freekeh is tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes more. Then fluff with a fork and let cool.

In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, mint, scallions, lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper and the cooked freekeh. Toss well and serve.

Nutrition information

Makes 4 servings

Per serving

Calories: 187
Total fat: 5 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Protein: 6 g
Carbohydrate: 31 g
Dietary fiber: 8 g
Sugar: 2 g sugar
Added sugar: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 83 mg

Source: Developed by Sara Quessenberry for Cleveland Clinic Wellness