I came across Freekeh in the health food store. I was hesitant to try it and I knew no one that even used the grain. But my friend Sunny did and she urged me to give it a try. With the rising cost of quinoa, it's nice to try a more affordable superfood. Freekeh is common in middle eastern cuisines apparently and is very comparable nutrition wise to quinoa. The grain is also high in fibre, actually its twice the amount that is found in quinoa. It is low in the glycemic index so it is very suitable for diabetics. It has up to 6g of protein per serving so it would be great for vegans and vegetarians. I bought a bag from Costco to give it a try.
Since it's my first time trying the grain, I decided to make something that packs a lot of flavour. I used a recipe adapted from Dr. Oz. Opening the bag, it smells "wheaty". Cooking it was simple enough. Just combine 1/2 cup of uncooked freekeh to 1 cup water. Boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. I bet my rice cooker can be used too.
Taste wise, I really enjoyed it. It taste more grainier and wheatier (I know that's not a word) than quinoa. I would pair it with savoury dishes. I think I'm still a big quinoa fan but freekeh sure is making a good run on the superfood grain.
Freekeh Vegetarian Meatballs
Ingredients
1 cup cooked freekeh
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded potato
2 tbsp. minced garlic
bunch of chopped parsley
small diced onion
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/3 cup mozzarella/cheddar mix cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1) Mix all ingredients
2) Preheat oven to 400 degrees
3) Form 1 inch balls and place on a greased tray.
4) Bake for 20-25 minutes. Flipping meatballs half way.
5) Remove from heat. Enjoy with some marinara sauce.
