Product Review: Freekeh [Freekeh Foods] + Giveaway

Happy Hump Day!

I recently had the opportunity to try an amazing product called Freekeh. I received product in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Before I get into my review, let me tell you a little bit about Freekeh. Freekeh is a process which means “to rub” in Arabic. According to the Freekeh Foods website, it was created by accident when a Middle Eastern village was attacked. Their wheat, which was still young and green, was set on fire. Instead of wallowing in misfortune, the villagers rubbed off the chaff and cooked it. Thus, freekeh was born.

Let me tell you a little bit about freekeh. What I expected and what I received were very different. I had never heard of freekeh before, so I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting, but I was kind of expecting a quinoa-like grain. When I opened the pouch, however, I saw something that looked more similar to bulgur. I was very excited to try it, and made our first dish the same evening I received it! (Recipe below!)

What I love about freekeh from Freekeh Foods is that it’s certified organic and non-GMO project verified. Both of those things are important to my family, so it made me happy to see those certifications right away.

The other thing I love about it is the versatility of it. It’s like quinoa and rice and has similar cooking times. It’s easy to add to literally almost any meal. I’ve seen some people add it to salads, too!

So how did we enjoy it? I made it as a side dish. We were having pan seared scallops and green beans from our farm share, so I thought I’d add some freekeh for a grain. The initial flavor was nutty (similar to quinoa) but chewy (like that of brown rice). To jazz it up a bit, I added some herbs and seasoning. It was a nice complement to our scallop entree.

I would absolutely recommend adding freekeh to your dining repertoire. It was quite good. Plus it’s loaded with protein and fiber. Freekeh is not gluten free. So for those of you that have gluten allergies or sensitivities, you will want to stay away from freekeh.

Curried Freekeh with Dill and Thyme

Ingredients

1 package Freekeh Foods freekeh, original flavor
1 tsp powdered curry
2 sprigs fresh thyme, lightly chopped
1 stalk fresh dill, lightly chopped
fine grain sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Stir together water, freekeh, curry, thyme and dill in a pot. Cook according to directions on the package. Stir together after cooking, and add salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve!

You can refrigerate leftovers and eat it for lunch the next day, or sprinkle on salads or wraps!

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Great news! I’m giving away a package of Freekeh Foods freekeh to one lucky reader. The winner gets his/her choice of flavors. Choose from: Original, Rosemary Sage, or Tamari.

Giveaway details: Giveaway starts August 26, 2015 at 12:00 am EST and ends September 2, 2015 at 12:00 am EST. It is open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be announced on the Running on Happy Facebook page, via Twitter, Instagram, and will be contacted by email.

I’m linking up with Running with SD Mom and Erica Finds for another giveaway roundup. You can #winalltheprizes!

Enjoy!