Freekeh and chickpea salad

Freekeh is so delicious and nourishing, I simply love it! But if you prefer, you could replace it with burghul or quinoa, adjusting the quantity of the water accordingly, the recipe would still be yummy!

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

- 1 cup freekeh

- 2 1/2 cups water

- 1 onion, minced

- 1 cup chickpeas, boiled and drained

- 1 cucumber, diced

- 1 small red bell pepper, diced

- 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced

- 1 garlic clove, mashed

- a handful walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

- a handful mint, minced

- 1 teaspoon sumac (optional)

- 1 lemon, juiced

- 3 + 1 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a pot, heat 1 tablespoon evoo and sauté onions until translucent, add freekeh and sauté 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the water, salt and pepper, and simmer uncovered, for 10 minutes, place the cover and simmer for 10 minutes longer or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork. Add the freekeh to the serving bowl and let cool. When ready, add in the chickpeas, cucumber, peppers, garlic, mint, walnuts, sumac, lemon juice, olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy!

Salata de freekeh (grau verde) cu naut

Freekeh este absolut delicios dar daca nu va place sau nu gasiti, il puteti inlocui cu burghul sau quinoa (nu uitati sa ajustati cantitatea de apa).

Ingrediente (4-6 portii)

- 1 cana freekeh (grau verde)

- 2 1/2 cani apa

- 1 ceapa, tocata

- 1 cana naut fiert si scurs

- 1 castravete taiat cubulete

- 1 ardei rosu taiat cubulete

- 1 ardei galben taiat cubulete

- 1 catel usturoi, zdrobit

- o mana de nuci prajite si tocate

- o mana de menta tocata

-1 lingurita sumac (optional)

- zeama de la o lamaie

- 3+1 linguri de ulei de masline extra virgin

- sare de mare si piper proaspat macinat, dupa gust

Intr-o cratita, incalziti o lingura de ulei de masline si caliti ceapa pana devine transparenta apoi adaugati freekeh si mai caliti timp de 4 minute, adaugati apa. sare si piper, si lasati sa fiarba la foc mic timp de 10 minute dupa care acoperiti cratita cu un capac si lasati sa mai fiarba inca 10 minute sau pana cand apa a fost absorbita complet. Luati de pe foc si lasati sa se odihneasca timp de 5 minute dupa care aerisiti freekeh cu o furculita, transferati-l intr-un bol si lasati-l sa se raceasca. Atunci cand acesta s-a racit suficient, adaugati restul ingredientelor si asezonati dupa gust. Pofta buna!