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Thai-Style Grain Salad with Crunchy Seeds

5.0

(1)

Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Bean and Lentil
Christina Holmes

Grain salads, like this herb-spiked one made with smoky freekeh, come together instantly with leftovers—reason enough to cook off a batch on Sundays.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1½ hours

  • Yield

    4 Servings

Ingredients

1½ cups freekeh, semi-pearled farro, spelt, or wheat berries
Kosher salt
⅓ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
⅓ cup raw sunflower seeds
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
3 tablespoons (or more) fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
½ small red onion, finely chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves with tender stems, plus more for garnish
1 cup fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook freekeh in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 45–50 minutes; drain, shaking off as much water as possible. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, toast pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until pumpkin seeds begin to pop and sunflower seeds are golden brown, 5–8 minutes; transfer to a plate and set aside.

    Step 3

    Whisk lime zest, lime juice, oil, and fish sauce in a large bowl. Add freekeh, onion, 4 scallions, 1 cup cilantro, and 1 cup mint and toss to combine; season with salt, pepper, and more lime juice, if desired.

    Step 4

    Top salad with more scallions, cilantro, and mint just before serving.

    Step 5

    DO AHEAD: Salad can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories (kcal) 480 Fat (g) 24 Saturated Fat (g) 3.5 Cholesterol (mg) 0 Carbohydrates (g) 57 Dietary Fiber (g) 9 Total Sugars (g) 5 Protein (g) 19 Sodium (mg) 420
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