Festive Freekeh Halloumi Salad Recipe

Are you ready for a Christmassy freekeh salad? This is a delicious side salad (or on its own right) to brighten up the winter months and sway away from all the delicious, but mostly beige foodstuffs. Freekeh is an ancient grain and a plant based protein that is cooked similarly to rice with a high fibre content and a smoky aroma!

Topped with oranges, dates and pomegranate seeds, this recipe will make you feel like you’re on holiday in the Mediterranean.

INGRIDIENTS


FOR THE FREEKEH

  • 1 cup freekeh
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste

FOR THE SALAD

  • 300 gram Halloumi cheese
  • 1 large orange (300g)
  • 1/2 medium pomegranate
  • 100 gram arugula
  • 100 gram fresh date, seeded, quartered lengthwise
  • 150 gram roasted almonds chopped coarsely or fresh walnuts, halved, or both

DRESSING

  • 2 tablespoon orange juice
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard
  • Zest from half an orange
  • Pinch pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1
Place freekeh and water in a wide saucepan over high heat; add salt, bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until water is absorbed.
Remove from heat; let aside covered for 10 more minutes, then spread on a large plate and let cool to room temperature.

Step 2
Meanwhile, using a zester, zest rind from half the orange in long thin strips. Peel orange, cut orange into segments, reserving 2 tablespoons of juice.

Step 3
To make dressing; combine juices, rind, thyme, mustard and oil. Season with pepper.

Step 4
Remove seeds from pomegranate; reserve.

Step 5
In a heavy hot pan, add some olive oil and fry the halloumi for 3 minutes on each side, put aside until slightly cool.

Step 6
In the same pan gently fry the almonds (if using) for 2 minutes, put aside until cool, then crush.

Step 7
Arrange rocket on a large serving plate. Gently spread the freekeh on the rocket leaves. Drizzle with a little dressing. Top with the fried Halloumi, orange segments, dates, pomegranate seeds and nuts. Drizzle with remaining dressing.

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