Chicken Freekeh Pilaf

Name: Chicken Freekeh Pilaf
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2¼ lbs bone-in chicken breasts and legs; 1½ cups dry freekeh; 1 cup frozen peas; 4 tbsp ghee; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 small onion; 4 cloves garlic; ⅓ cup raw nuts; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 bay leaf; 2 cardamom pods; 1½ tsp ground cumin; 1½ tsp Lebanese 7 spices; 1 tsp ground coriander; ½ tsp white pepper; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp salt to taste; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp whole cloves; ½ tsp black peppercorns; 1 tsp whole caraway; 5-6 whole cardamom pods; 1 bay leaf; 1 cinnamon stick

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This chicken freekeh pilaf recipe is definitely a family favorite. It's packed with the flavors of warm, comforting spices and has always been my ultimate childhood comfort meal. If you've never tried freekeh, it's super easy to make, with a similar cooking process to white rice, and has many health benefits!!

Middle Eastern freekeh pilaf with shredded chicken and toasted nuts.

I've always been intimidated by cooking freekeh, but my recipe will break it down for you step by step so you can make the perfect freekeh with chicken.

We usually make some salad to go along with this dish, like this Greek Mediterranean quinoa salad with feta, killer fatoush salad with pita chips, and my favorite tabouli with quinoa. My dad's favorite freekeh side is cucumbers in yogurt, or khyar b laban, which is the perfect cold, refreshing addition to the dish. He just dollops it right on top.

What is Freekeh?

Freekeh, also called freek or fareek, is basically wheat that's just harvested prematurely while it's green. It's then roasted and rubbed, which is what gives it its earthy flavor. You'll notice its distinct flavor instantly, which is exactly why it's one of my favorite foods.

As for the texture, freekeh is a little chewy, and you can feel each grain with every bite. It's definitely super unique. In most Middle Eastern cuisines, it's usually served either as soup or with chicken or meat, just like this recipe.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken: I suggest using bone-in pieces if you make this freekeh with chicken. Since you'll be boiling the chicken and using the stock to cook the freekeh, you'll need the bones to give you the maximum flavor (you'll be shredding the chicken anyway). I've made this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and it still works perfectly, so it's really up to what you have at home.
Freekeh: There are two types of freekeh: whole and cracked. For this recipe, you'll need the whole freekeh, which is most common in Arab households. Don't forget to rinse it really well under warm water.
Peas: As a kid, I always picked out all the peas from my freekeh. Now, I pile them up! Frozen peas are the easiest to use because you chuck them in during the last two minutes of cooking.
Nuts: This is the most important part, in my opinion. You'll need either raw pine nuts, cashews, or almonds (or a mix of them all), which you'll lightly fry in ghee and sprinkle on top of the freekeh. They add a beautiful crunch.
Onion: Any onion will do.
Garlic: You'll need about four cloves of garlic to add to the broth.
Ghee: This recipe only needs a bit of ghee to fry the nuts and freekeh. Olive oil is an appropriate substitute, but honestly, the ghee is what really deepens the flavor of the freekeh.
Olive oil: I like to use olive oil to sear the chicken before it boils. You can use any oil, but high-quality extra virgin olive oil always adds to a dish.
Spices: The mix of spices I like to use for this recipe makes this whole dish. I like to mix whole and ground spices to get the most flavor. The whole spices include cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, black peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, and caraway. The ground spices are seven spices, cumin, dried coriander, white pepper, and nutmeg. Salt and black pepper to taste, of course.

How to Make Chicken Freekeh Pilaf

Heat the olive oil in a large pot, and add the chicken. Sear for about a minute on each side. Add the chicken spices, onion (cut in quarters), and at least 6 cups of hot water. Cover and boil for 30-35 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

Fry the freekeh in ghee (or butter) in a nonstick pot on medium heat for about 5 to 6 minutes with the freekeh spices.

Pour around 3 cups of the broth the chicken was cooking in onto the freekeh, or enough broth to cover it. Cover and let boil for 30-35 minutes or until tender. Once the freekeh is cooked, remove the pot, add the frozen peas, cover, and let steam for 10 minutes.

Fry the nuts in ghee until they're golden brown (stirring continuously).

Fluff freekeh with a fork and transfer it to your serving dish. Shred the chicken and add on top. Pour the fried nuts on top of the freekeh.

chicken freekeh pilaf with toasted nuts in a bowl.

Tips and Tricks

Sear the chicken before boiling it. This gives it a beautiful color and brings out all the juices that flavor your chicken broth.
Add around ¼ cup of chicken broth to the freekeh after it's finished cooking. My family doesn't prefer it dry, so we always add even more broth after it's done to keep it more moist and hearty.
When you fry the freekeh in ghee, add the spices in as well in order to maximize their flavor.
Fry the nuts last and pour them over the dish with the melted ghee. The nuts will be super crunchy, and their sizzling sound when they hit the freekeh is SO satisfying.
I usually don't measure the liquid-to-freekeh ratio. The way I do it is to completely cover the freekeh in liquid and boil it covered for around 35-40 minutes. If the liquid is absorbed and the freekeh isn't cooked through yet, then add a little more and cook until it's light and fluffy.

Equipment

Stovetop pot to boil the chicken
Nonstick pan to toast the nuts
Nonstick pot with a cover to cook the freekeh

Storage

Store the chicken freekeh pilaf in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

FAQs

Is freekeh gluten-free?

Since freekeh is made of wheat, it is not gluten-free. This means freekeh is unsafe for people with gluten allergies, sensitivities, or celiac disease.

What is the similarity between freekeh and farro?

Freekeh and farro are similar in that they are both whole-grain wheat grains, also called ancient grains.

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