Freekeh
 | |
| Course | Main |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Israel, and Syria |
| Region or state | Jordan, Palestine, Egypt , Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Iraq |
| Main ingredients | Green wheat |
 Cookbook: Freekeh  Media: Freekeh | |
Freekeh (sometimes spelled frikeh) or farik (Arabic: فريكة / ALA-LC: farīkah) (pronounced free-kah) is a cereal food made from green wheat that goes through a roasting process. It is an ancient Arabian dish that is especially popular in Levantine, Arabian Peninsula, Jordanian, and Egyptian cuisine, as well as in North African and other neighboring cuisines.[1][2]
The wheat is harvested while the grains are yellow and the seeds still are soft; it then is piled and sun-dried. The piles are carefully set on fire so only the straw and chaff burn, not the seeds. In these controlled conditions, the high moisture content of the seeds prevents them from burning. Next, the roasted wheat is subjected to threshing and sun-drying to make the flavor, texture, and color uniform. This threshing or rubbing process of the grains gives this food its name, farīk or “rubbed”. Finally, the seeds are cracked into smaller pieces so they resemble a green bulgur.[1]
History
Freekeh is mentioned in an early thirteenth-century Baghdad cook book as farīkiyya.[1] In that recipe, meat is fried in oil and braised with water, salt, and cinnamon bark. Then, dried coriander is stirred in with young wheat ("freekeh") and is cooked. Finally, the meal is served with cumin, cinnamon, and fresh lamb tail fat.[1]
Culinary
In Egypt, freekeh is served as ḥamām bi’l-farīk (pigeon stuffed with green wheat). Freekeh also is prepared in Egypt with onion and tomato, and sometimes, with chicken. Shūrbat farīk bi’l-mukh is a freekeh and bone marrow soup from Tunisia. Freeket lahma, a green wheat pilaf dish with roasted lamb, spring peas, and pine nuts, comes from Jordan, and shūrba al-farīk is a Jordanian cuisine soup with green wheat and chicken.[1]
In Syria, freekeh usually is prepared with lamb, onion, butter, almonds, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, and salt. In Israel, it may be used as part of a Hamin stew along with chicken, tomatoes, potatoes, red chili peppers, and beans.
Nutritional value
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 1,418 kJ (339 kcal) |
|
71 g | |
|
2.5 g | |
|
14 g | |
| Vitamins | |
| Thiamine (B1) |
(37%) 0.42 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(10%) 0.12 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(45%) 6.7 mg |
|
(19%) 0.94 mg | |
| Vitamin B6 |
(32%) 0.42 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
(11%) 43 μg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(3%) 34 mg |
| Iron |
(27%) 3.5 mg |
| Magnesium |
(41%) 144 mg |
| Manganese |
(143%) 3.0 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(73%) 508 mg |
| Potassium |
(9%) 431 mg |
| Sodium |
(0%) 2 mg |
| Zinc |
(44%) 4.2 mg |
| Other constituents | |
| selenium | 89 ug |
| water | 11 g |
|
| |
| |
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Freekeh's nutritional attributes are comparable to other cereal grains, especially durum wheat, from which it is derived, depending on the durum cultivar.[1][3] Durum is notable for its high content of protein (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV), dietary fiber, B vitamins, and several dietary minerals, especially manganese (143% DV) (table). Before roasting, freekeh is 11% water, 71% carbohydrates, 2.5% fat, and 14% protein (see table displayed at right).
See also
- Grünkern, a similar preparation made from spelt
- List of African dishes
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Freekeh - Farik - Green Wheat Clifford A. Wright.
- ↑ Anissa Helou, "Freekeh", in Alan Davidson, ed., The Oxford Companion to Food
- ↑ Velland E (14 July 2015). "Grilled Halloumi and Freekeh Salad". The Globe and Mail, Food and Wine, Toronto.
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