Freekah

Has anyone cooked freekah? It is a green (immature) wheat that has been roasted. I have found some recipes on the web, including one from the NY Times, but I am wondering of anyone has a traditional family recipe.

Maedl
  • Posted by: Maedl
  • February 18, 2013
  • 3500 views
  • 9 Comments

9 Comments

Maedl
Maedl February 20, 2013
Emily, I tried your recipe for dinner this evening and it’s fantastic! I love greens, and I’m sure freekah is eaten with wild plants that are foraged in Israel and Lebanon, so your recipe seemed authentic enough. I put a hunk of goat’s milk feta on top, since I was eating the freekah and greens as a main course.

In southern Germany, we have a very similar grain called Grünkern, which is spelt harvested while it is still green. It comes from a small region on the Würtemburg-Bavaria border and is also smoked, following a method very similar to freekah. I buy it frequently and usually use it in soup, but never noticed the smoky flavor like I did with the freekah.
 
em-i-lis
em-i-lis February 20, 2013
Hi Maedl, I'm so happy to hear from you and happy too that you enjoyed your meal. I love the idea of goat's milk feta on top (or at anytime!). :) Thanks so very much for writing back and for the note about Grunkern too. I love hearing about ingredients from around the world, and the ways in which they're similar or not, to ones others grow and use. Thanks again!!
 
Droplet
Droplet February 20, 2013
I have been thinking about trying to prepare it in a light cheese sauce of some kind that would complement the smokiness of the grain itself- adding a smoked cheese only in reverse....Uncomplete yet though.
 
Maedl
Maedl February 19, 2013
Susan, there is an excellent summary of freekah's history in Breaking Bread in Galilee by Abbie Rosner. She lives in Israel and early in her time there became fascinated with the Arab and Palestinian foods. She made a concerted effort to get to know these people, go with them to gather wild plants, learn about traditional agriculture and and their food traditions. I highly recommend it. It is on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Bread-Galilee-Culinary-Promised/dp/9657594006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361317510&sr=8-1&keywords=BReaking+bread+in+galilee
 
susan G.
susan G. February 19, 2013
On food52: http://food52.com/recipes/tags/freekeh
Your question makes me wonder about its history... time to find out.
 
em-i-lis
em-i-lis February 19, 2013
Thanks, maedl!! I hope you enjoy it- let me know!! :)
 
cratecooking
cratecooking February 19, 2013
Freekah is a delicious grain! You can substitute it in place of any grain, such as rice or quinoa, to mix things up a bit. It's wonderful hot as a side dish, or cold in a salad. If you live in the NYC area you can also buy it the Greenmarkets from Cayuga Pure Organics, http://www.cporganics.com/store/774/13211.
 
Maedl
Maedl February 19, 2013
Emily, that sounds so good. I love greens and have saved the recipe to make later in the week.
 
em-i-lis
em-i-lis February 18, 2013
I absolutely love freekah. I first had it at an Israeli restaurant in Philly and bought some right afterwards. I don't have a traditional family recipe but made and enjoyed this dish one night: http://em-i-lis.com/wordpress/recipes-new-format/non-pasta-lunch-and-dinner-entrees/frik-with-mixed-greens-and-preserved-lemon/
 
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