By Felicia, on March 15th, 2013
Last week we had a new salad at my work ( I work at a local grocery store in the service deli). This salad incorporated Freekeh. Since we introduced it, we have had lots of “what is freekeh” questions from both staff and guests. I had no answer so I did some research.
Freekeh is considered an ancient grain. It has been used in recipes since the 13th century and along with Quinoa, amaranth and spelt has remained unchanged for a millennia. Unlike freekeh’s fellow ancients, it is a wheat grain.
“Freekeh is made from young wheat (typically durum) that is harvested while still green and put through a roasting and rubbing process during production. It has a smoky, nutty flavor and a firm, chewy texture similar to bulgur.” (1)
The health benefits are great. Freekeh is high in fiber but low in carbohydrates. It has a high amount of protein as well. It has high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, anti-oxidants that promote eye health. And because of the fiber content, aids in digestion and has even acted like a prebiotic to keep the digestive track healthy. (1,2)
This ancient grain is having a great reintroduction into our diets! I encourage you to try it, it is good and can replace cous cous, rice or pasta with ease. A bonus is the name, at work we have been singing “Super freak, super freak, super freekeh” this whole week!
A side note, freekeh is a wheat so it is not safe for those suffering from celiacs or are gluten free for dieting reasons.
Sources and resources:
(1) http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442471327
(2)http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/qt/freekeh-what-is-it.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freekeh