• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Knife and Soul
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About me
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About me
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Chicken Freekeh Salad

    Aug 4, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    A serving of Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    A serving of Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad
    A serving of Chicken Freekeh Salad
    Chicken Freekeh Salad

    They say that you can’t have it all and that’s generally true, but this chicken freekeh salad certainly ticks a lot of boxes. It’s balanced, healthy, filling and refreshing and makes a great, lunch, light dinner or side dish. With crunchy cucumber, juicy pomegranate jewels, creamy feta and fresh mint this salad is super refreshing and will certainly hit the spot on a hot day (or any other day for that matter). The combination of chicken, pistachios and feta ensures the salad packs in plenty of protein and will keep you full for a while.

    Servings of Chicken Freekeh Salad

    🛒 What do I need to make this recipe?

    Ingredients:

    ingredients

    Possible substitutions:

    • Freekeh - you can swap this for spelt if you can't find freekeh. It has a similar texture to freekeh but does not have the same nutty taste.
    • Chicken thighs - you can use lamb instead if you wish to give the salad a richer flavour. You can also omit the chicken and add extra nuts and feta for a vegetarian option.
    • Feta - I would personally opt for feta every time but ricotta or goat cheese will also work well.
    • Pistachio nuts - I love how their mild sweetness complements the other flavours in the salad. They can also be swapped for walnuts or hazelnuts.
    • Cucumber - is juicy and refreshing like the pomegranate seeds. You could swap this for baby spinach or green apple.

    Tools & equipment:

    • Chopping board - for prepping the chicken, ideally one that is designated for raw meat.
    • Medium sized frying pan - for cooking the chicken
    • Salad bowl - choose one that will hold the finished salad and leaves room to toss all the ingredients together,
    • Salad tossers - for ensuring salad and dressing ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. A couple of forks will do the job if you do not have these.

    🧑‍🍳 How to make the Chicken Freekeh Salad

    1. Cook the chicken

    Season the chicken thigh pieces with salt, pepper and ground coriander. Then place them in a medium-sized frying pan on a medium to high heat and add oil. Add the seasoned chicken pieces when the oil is hot and cook for a few minutes until they begin to brown and are cooked through.

    Cokking the chicken

    2. Prepare the dressing

    Mix lemon juice, olive oil, ground cumin, garlic granules, honey and white wine vinegar in a small jug or bowl.

    Prepared dressing

    3. Assemble the salad

    Put the cooked freekeh, pomegranate seeds, cucumber, feta, pistachio nuts and fresh mint into a salad bowl. Add the cooked chicken and pour on the dressing when you are ready to serve.

    Assembled salad

    👍 Top tips for a perfect Chicken Freekeh Salad

    1. Use precooked freekeh to save time - ready to eat freekeh is a great shortcut when you are in a hurry. You should be able to find this in most large supermarkets or in your local health food store.
    2. Check the doneness of the chicken - cut one of the larger pieces of chicken in half. If it is white and opaque it's ready. If the meat is still pink it needs a little longer.
    3. Do not overcook the chicken - remove the chicken from the pan as soon as it is done to avoid dry rubbery chicken pieces.
    4. Add the dressing to the salad when you are ready to serve - no one likes a soggy salad so don’t leave the dressed salad hanging around for too long.

    Chicken Freekeh Salad

    🙋 FAQs

    How long does the Chicken Freekeh Salad keep for?

    The salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the salad and dressing separately to avoid a soggy and unpleasant salad. The salad is not suitable for freezing.

    What is freekeh?

    Freekeh is an ancient grain made from young durum wheat that has been harvested early. It has a chewy texture and a delicious nutty and earthly flavour.

    Is freekeh a carb?

    Freekah is an unrefined carb. It offers a number of other nutritional benefits because it is harvested while it is still young. Freekah is high in protein and fibre and also contains a little iron and calcium.

    Should you soak freekeh before you cook it?

    It does not need to be soaked. However, it will benefit from a thorough rinse to remove the grit and other debris that can be found in some varieties of freekeh.

    Other easy chicken recipes

    • Panko Chicken (perfectly crispy)
    • Crispy Honey Chilli Chicken
    • Peanut Butter Chicken Curry (Easy 30 Minute Recipe)
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    bowl of chicken freekeh salad

    Chicken Freekeh Salad


    • Author: Helen
    • Prep Time: 20
    • Cook Time: 10
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    A quick and easy chicken freekeh salad with crunchy cucumber, juicy pomegranate jewels, creamy feta and fresh mint.

    Serves 4.  Use the scaling buttons below to double or triple the quantity.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 4 chicken thighs - fat removed and cut into bite-sized chunks
    • Sea or kosher salt
    • Ground black pepper
    • 2 tbsp ground coriander
    • 1 tbsp olive, groundnut or canola oil
    • 500g (or 14oz) cooled cooked freekeh - (approx 200g or 7oz) uncooked freekeh (note 1) 
    • 8 tbsp pomegranate seeds
    • ½ cucumber - seeds removed and cut into small squares (Note 2)
    • 200g (or 7oz) feta - crumbled
    • 4 tbsp pistachio nuts
    • 4 tbsp roughly chopped fresh mint

    Dressing:

    • 4 tbsp lemon juice (1.5 lemons approx)
    • 4 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ tsp ground coriander
    • ½ tsp garlic granules
    • 2 tsp honey
    • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

    Instructions

    1. Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper and ground coriander.
    2. Place a medium sized frying pan on a medium to high heat and add the chicken thighs when the oil is hot. Cook for a few minutes until they begin to brown and are cooked through. (Note 3)
    3. Meanwhile, combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl or jug and set aside.
    4. Place the freekeh, pomegranate seeds, cucumber, feta and pistachio nuts  in a large salad bowl.
    5. Add the cooked chicken when it is ready.
    6. Pour on the dressing, toss and serve on plates or in bowls when ready.

    Notes

    1. You can use precooked freekeh if you wish. If using uncooked freekeh, cook according to packet instructions and allow to cool. 
    2. Cut cucumber into 1cm or ½ inch squares
    3. Check the doneness of the chicken by cutting one of the larger pieces in half. If it is white and opaque the chicken is cooked, if you see any pink toss it back in the pan for a little longer.
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: stove-top
    • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

    Keywords: chicken freekeh salad

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @knifeandsoulrecipes — I love to see what you make!

    « Super Simple Blackened Cod
    Spicy Miso Pasta (with vegetarian option) »

    Share this recipe!

    5 shares
    • Share
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Helen! The creator of all the tasty, speedy and easy-to-follow recipes on Knife & Soul. I hope I can help you to add some deliciousness to your busy life today.

    More about me →

    Recent recipes

    • Easy cheese quesadillas
      Easy Cheese Quesadilla (ready in 10 minutes)
    • Easy Lamb Keema Rice ready to serve
      Keema Rice (Easy 20-Minute Recipe)
    • Mini Egg Cookies
      Mini Egg Cookies
    • Easy Carrot and Coriander Soup
      Easy Carrot and Coriander Soup (5 ingredients)

    Follow Knife & Soul

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Never Miss A Recipe

    Categories

    • 15 minute dishes
    • 20 Minute Dishes
    • 30 Minutes
    • 5 ingredient recipes
    • Comfort food recipes
    • Easy Asian Inspired Recipes
    • Easy Peasy Curry Recipes
    • Fakeaway recipes
    • Fish & Seafood Recipes
    • Freezer friendly
    • Lunch and brunch recipes
    • One pan recipes
    • Pasta
    • Resources
    • Soup Recipes
    • Super Salad Recipes
    • Sweet
    • Veggie Dinner Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me

    Stay in touch

    • Subscribe
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Web stories

    Copyright © 2022 Knife & Soul

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    5 shares