Freekeh Salad With Cucumber, Pistachios, and Mint [Vegan]

OK, first things first. What’s freekeh, you ask? Well, it’s an ancient form of wheat that’s harvested very young, resulting in superior nutritional content. The whole grain form of freekeh is chewy like barley, while the cracked grain variety is more like bulgur. But freekeh has a slightly smoky flavor all its own. Freekeh is all the rage among chefs right now, but it’s been popular in the Middle East for centuries. While freekeh is known for being native to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, most of the freekeh available in the U.S. right now is manufactured by an Australian company (go figure). If you want to dig a little deeper on freekeh, check out my other freekeh recipe – it includes another good salad recipe. Meanwhile, I give you this freekeh salad with lots of my favorite things: cucumbers, mint, toasted pistachios, raisins and pomegranate molasses. I topped it off with some fat-free feta cheese, but if you want to make the salad vegan, just leave the cheese off (obviously!).