Bircher-style freekeh with pistachios and dried sour cherries

Freekeh is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and North-African recipes; its versatility makes it suitable as a side dish or even an ingredient for breakfast. Because it is immature wheat when harvested, freekeh contains more protein, vitamins and minerals than mature wheat grains. This bircher-style freekeh is therefore packed with all the things you need to start the day, and can be made in advance.

• serves

  6

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  40 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 165 g (1 cup) freekeh
• 560 ml (2¼ cups) cloudy apple juice
• 1 cinnamon quill
• 2 granny smith apples, grated, plus extra, sliced, to serve
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 500 g sheep’s-milk yoghurt (see Note)
• 50 g (⅓ cup) dried sour cherries (see Note)
• 2 tbsp dried barberries (see Note)
• 50 g (⅓ cup) roasted almonds, roughly chopped
• 35 g (¼ cup) pistachios, roughly chopped, plus extra, to serve
• 2 tbsp honey, to drizzle

Instructions

Place freekeh, apple juice, 125 ml (½ cup) water and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 35 minutes or until freekeh is tender and the liquid has absorbed. Set aside to cool. Discard cinnamon.

Place cooked freekeh, apples, lemon juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and nuts in a large bowl and stir to combine.

Divide among bowls, top with extra apple, drizzle with honey and scatter over extra pistachios to serve.

Note

• Sheep’s-milk yoghurt, dried sour cherries and dried barberries are available from selected delis.

Photography by John Laurie.

As seen in Feast magazine, October 2011, Issue 2. For more recipes and articles, pick up a copy of this month's Feast magazine or check out our great subscriptions offers here.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.