Shake & Eat Freekeh Salad

I got so excited when I got my gift box from Freekeh!  This time my freekeh came with a mason jar with my name on it (love that) and wooden utensils in its own carry-on bag.

So what the freak is Freekeh?

Freekeh is wheat that’s harvested when its young and green;  a whole grain with a distinct  flavor. There are two kinds, one is whole grain; the other cracked.  The whole grain variety is firm and similar to a wild rice,  and the cracked is just the whole grain cracked into smaller pieces,  and is similar to bulgur  wheat or farro.

So is freekeh the new quinoa?  It’s been around for centuries, however recently its become the “new ancient grain”.  Nutrition wise, freekeh is slightly higher in fiber,  and equal in protein, to quinoa.  It also is high in iron, calcium and and zinc.

I modified a bean salad recipe that is in a book we developed for our intern class; submitted by Natalia. It’s a favorite of ours but the original calls for sun-dried tomatoes and broccoli,  which I didn’t have, so I substituted sun-dried tomato paste,  edamame,  and added my freekeh (you can add any whole grain)! I then placed in my mason jar for lunch and topped with Boston lettuce, shook and ate the next day.   It has all the things I love in a salad; it’s quick, easy, satisfying,  and tasty!

Protein-Packed Shake & Eat Grain & Bean Salad

Madeline Basler

An easy, make-ahead grain and bean salad that’s hearty, flavorful, and great for lunches on the go

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1-1/2 cups cracked freekeh, or grain of choice cooked
• 2 cups low sodium chick peas rinsed
• 2 cups edamame prepared rinsed
• 1 cup red pepper diced
• 1 cup scallions chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup parsley chopped
• 1 tablespoon sundried tomato can also use the paste
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1-1/2 cups Boston lettuce or lettuce of choice torn into bite size pieces

Instructions

 

• Combine chickpeas, grain of choice, edamame garlic, olives, pepper, sun-dried tomato paste or sun-dried tomatoes, scallions and parsley in a large bowl.
  1-1/2 cups cracked freekeh, or grain of choice, 2 cups low sodium chick peas, 2 cups edamame, 1 cup red pepper, 1 cup scallions, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 cup parsley, 1 tablespoon sundried tomato
• Add olive oil, lemon juice and zest, salt and pepper to taste.
  1 lemon, olive oil , salt and pepper
• Place approximately one cup in the bottom of your mason jar
• Top with greens of choice
  1-1/2 cups Boston lettuce or lettuce of choice
• Refrigerate until serving.
• To Serve: shake jar to distribute dressing and eat!

Keyword #delicious, #easy, #edamame, #freekeh, #quick, #side, #stonesoupblog, #wholegrain, Fresh, Fun, Lunch, Nutrition, Protein, Salad, Vegetarian