Freekeh With Plant-Based Chicken

Freekeh with chicken has always been one of my favourite Arabic meals growing up; it’s hearty, comforting, and packed with flavour. If you’ve never tried freekeh before, it’s an ancient grain that’s high in protein and has a deliciously nutty taste. I actually prefer it over rice because it’s more nutritious and has so much more depth of flavour. Plus, it’s perfect for feeding a crowd!

Traditionally, this Middle Eastern dish is made with a whole chicken stuffed with freekeh or roasted chicken served on top. But after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, I switched to a pescatarian diet, which led me to find a new way to enjoy this classic meal. Now, I make it with plant-based chicken pieces, which not only keeps it in line with my diet but also makes it so much quicker and easier to prepare!

I love serving it with a fresh Arabic salad and a side of plain yogurt for a wholesome, well-balanced meal. It’s simple, nourishing, and still gives me all the comfort of the traditional dish I grew up with. Hope you give it a try!

Ingredients:

1 cups freekeh (coarse), rinsed and drained
A bag of Plant-Based Chicken (or your choice of protein)
1 onion, finely diced
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper, to taste
½ tsp seven spice
2.5 cups vegetable stock
Toasted slivered almonds & chopped parsley (for garnish)

Instructions:

Step 1: Cook the Freekeh:

Sauté the chopped onions in olive oil over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the rinsed freekeh, spices and 2.5 cups of vegetable stock.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once done, keep it covered to stay warm.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken:

Sauté the plant-based chicken pieces with some of the spices to give it colour. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until fully cooked.

Step 3: Assemble & Serve:

Fluff the freekeh and transfer to a serving dish.
Top with the plant-based chicken pieces.
Garnish with toasted almonds and chopped parsley. Enjoy with a side of fresh salad or plain yogurt.

💬 I’d love to know what you think! If you give this recipe a try, let me know how it turned out.

Comments

Welcome to My Journey: Finding Strength Through Sharing

Hey there, and welcome to My World My Life , my little corner of the internet. After what felt like an endless process, I’ve finally moved all my old blog posts from their outdated home to this fresh new space. It wasn’t easy, balancing this with treatment, work, and family life, but with a little help from my family, I made sure every post made it over intact. No missing entries, no broken links (because let’s be honest, that totally would have happened). Now that everything is in place, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. This blog isn’t just about sharing my journey; it’s about creating a space where we can connect, support one another, and navigate life’s unexpected twists together. One of those twists came in the form of breast cancer. One moment, I was going about my usual routine, and the next, I was sitting in a doctor’s office, hearing words that didn’t feel real. In an instant, my world flipped upside down. My days became a whirlwind of appointments, treatments, and ...

Navigating Work and Life While Managing Breast Cancer

When cancer enters your life, it feels like a sudden storm, disrupting every aspect of your existence with its demands and emotional toll. Yet, despite the overwhelming nature of such a diagnosis, it doesn't have to completely define your existence. Maintaining some semblance of normal life, be it through work, relationships, or hobbies, can be a source of strength and continuity. However, everyone's experience with cancer is uniquely theirs. While some might find their daily routines and priorities wholly transformed, others, like myself, strive to weave treatment into an existing tapestry of responsibilities. The role of a support system, mental health resources, and personal perspective cannot be understated in navigating these challenges. My own journey took a dramatic turn right before my surgery for breast cancer, requiring me to step back from a demanding job as Head of Delivery at the Greater London Authority. It wasn't just about taking time off; my role demanded a...

Redefining Life After Cancer: My Journey to a New Normal

In 2023, my world - and my family’s - was completely turned upside down with my breast cancer diagnosis. It was the year my biggest dream came true when we bought our house. And it was the year my worst nightmare became reality when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two life-altering events, colliding at the same time. But it wasn’t just life that changed... I will never return to the person I was before cancer. Sometime I grieve that version of me, the one who lived without this constant awareness of mortality. I thought I understood that life was finite, but there’s a difference between knowing it in theory and feeling it in your bones every day. The fear of recurrence or the cancer spreading isn’t just an abstract worry; it’s a shadow that lingers, a rational dread because cancer doesn’t play by the rules. It can return or spread at any time. And that reality is something I have to learn to live with. The idea of a “happily ever after” shattered in an instant. Moving into our new ...

MyWorldMyLife

Search This Blog