Parmesan Spinach Freekeh

     What is Freekeh? Freekeh is a flavorful, high-fiber whole grain that is a traditional food of the Middle East and Northeastern Africa. This roasted young wheat has a nice smoky flavor and a pleasant chewy texture which makes it great for side dishes and salads. This yummy grain cooks up in 25 minutes and also makes a hearty hot cereal. This whole grain is loaded with nutrition too. A ¼ cup serving has 8 grams of fiber, 7 grams protein and lots of iron. 

   I was sent a package of Freekeh from Bob’sRed Mill and I could not wait to cook it. I placed this whole grain in boiling water and simmered it for 25 minutes. The result was a marvelous whole grain that looked like cooked wheat. I tasted it and I loved the chewy texture. I could have eaten the whole pot of Freekeh just as it was, but of course I wanted to make a side dish with it. I added a bag of cooked frozen spinach, some parmesan cheese and some spices. The result was a healthy whole grain side dish. Next time I will add some tofu or other protein to make it a complete meal.

                       Parmesan Spinach Freekeh

                2 ½ cups water

                1 cup uncooked Freekeh

                12 ounces frozen spinach, cooked and drained

                ¼ cup parmesan cheese

                1 teaspoon garlic powder

                1 teaspoon dried rosemary

  Place the water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the cup of Freekeh, cover and simmer on low for 25 minutes. When the Freekeh is cooked, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Serve as a side dish.

  I am going to have to try this yummy grain another day for breakfast and add some sugar and milk to it. I can see Freekeh being great for making my homemade veggie burgers.

How would you enjoy Freekeh? What ingredients would you add to this grain?

“These opinions are my own and I received the above-mentioned product from Bob’s Red Mill in exchange for a review.”