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Freekeh

Freekeh with Chicken

Freekeh cooked in chicken stock topped with nuts and chicken

Course Main Course
Cuisine Lebanese
Keyword Authentic, Dinner Party, Healthy
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 cup freekeh
  • 2-3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 onions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon 7 spice
  • 1 tspn salt
  • Regular olive oil
  • Handful of braised chicken
  • Handful of assorted nuts cashews, pine, pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon butter + 3 tablespoon browned butter

For the Chicken Broth

  • 1 chicken, quartered
  • 2 litres of water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 peppercorns
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • 1 large onion halved
  • 1 carrot peeled
  • 1 celery stick

Instructions

To prepare the chicken broth

  1. Flash fry the chicken quarters in a pan with some olive oil on high heat for a few minutes till browned on the outside. Transfer to a large stock pot with the onion, carrot, celery, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, salt and water.

  2. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for around an hour

  3. Clean the chicken and set aside to top the freekeh later.

To prepare the Freekeh

  1. Clean the freekeh by sifting the grains on a tray with your fingers several times over making sure to remove any small stones or rubble
  2. Wash the freekeh several times and soak in some warm water for half an hour before cooking
  3. Sauté the onions in 2 drizzles of regular olive oil (3-4 tbspns) on low heat until caramalised. Don't rush this stage which may take 15+ minutes
  4. Warm up the chicken stock in a separate pot
  5. Drain the freekeh using a fine sieve and add to the onions along with the 7 spice. Sauté for five minutes and add enough of the warm chicken stock to cover

  6. Add a tablespoon of butter, mix and put a lid on. Cook for around 30-40 minutes until the grain is well cooked, adding some stock if the mixture becomes too dry. Adjust the salt if necessary
  7. Melt some butter on very low heat until it starts to froth and turn brown. This should take 5-10 minutes.
  8. Spoon some of the freekeh onto a plate and place some of the braised chicken on top along with the toasted nuts
  9. Drizzle the melted brown butter on top and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

You can freeze the extra chicken broth for use in other dishes