Vegetarian Vegan Fresh Freekeh Cucumber Salad
Freekeh — roasted young green wheat — brings a wonderfully smoky, nutty depth to grain salads that you just don't get from the usual suspects like quinoa or couscous. Here it's cooked until tender, then tossed with crisp English cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a generous handful of fresh parsley and mint that keep every bite feeling bright and alive. The dressing is a simple but punchy blend of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and ground cumin — earthy, citrusy, and just bold enough to stand up to the hearty grain. Letting the freekeh cool before combining everything is the small but important step that keeps the vegetables crisp and the herbs from wilting into the bowl. A scatter of pomegranate seeds at the end adds little bursts of sweetness and a pop of color that makes the whole dish look genuinely stunning on the table. It works beautifully as a make-ahead lunch, a potluck contribution, or a satisfying side that holds its own next to just about anything.
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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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