Carrageenan Free Vegan Fresh Freekeh Cucumber Salad
Bright, herby, and packed with satisfying chew, this grain salad brings together smoky freekeh, crisp English cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a generous handful of fresh parsley and mint. The lemon-cumin dressing ties everything together with a citrusy punch that makes each forkful feel genuinely refreshing. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed — grains, fresh vegetables, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices — so there's nothing hiding in the ingredient list that could cause concern for anyone avoiding thickeners or stabilizers commonly found in packaged dressings and prepared salads. Carrageenan tends to sneak into store-bought dressings and processed grain mixes, but making this from scratch means you stay completely clear of it without any extra effort. A scatter of pomegranate seeds at the end adds a jewel-like pop of color and sweetness that takes the whole bowl up a notch. Serve it at room temperature straight from the kitchen or let it chill for a bit — it holds up beautifully either way.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the freekeh
- 1 cup whole-grain freekeh, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
For the salad
- 1 english cucumber, diced (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed freekeh, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the freekeh is tender and has absorbed all the liquid, about 20–22 minutes.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat and let the freekeh steam, covered, for 5 minutes. Spread it onto a large mixing bowl or sheet pan and let it cool for at least 10 minutes, until no longer steaming.
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