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Freekeh risotto with spring greens

Freekeh is made from cracked, roasted green wheat. It works well for risotto as the grains keep their bite when cooked

Ingreadient

  • olive oil spray
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 600ml vegetable stock
  • a bunch asparagus, trimmed
  • 200g cracked freekeh
  • 100g baby spinach
  • 100g frozen peas, defrosted
  • 4 tbsp fat-free quark

Direction

    1. Heat a spray of olive oil in a large pan, fry the onion with a pinch of salt until soft, but not golden, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for another 2 minutes.
    2. Bring the stock to a simmer. Blanch the asparagus spears in the stock for 3-5 mins until just tender. Remove from the pan and slice into 5cm pieces, keeping the stock.
    3. Stir the freekeh into the onions, then add the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring often, until all the stock has been absorbed and the grains are tender, about 20-25 minutes. Add a splash of water and cover with a lid if the grains aren’t tender but the stock has been absorbed, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
    4. Season, and stir in the asparagus, spinach, peas and quark, until the greens are tender and heated through.