Orange Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
Orange Mint Freekeh Salad pairs smoky, chewy grains with creamy lima beans, juicy citrus, crisp vegetables, and a lively mint dressing.
- Cook Time: 12 to 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups plain water
- 3/4 cup cracked freekeh grain
- 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves, with additional leaves for finishing
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup fennel sliced into thin pieces, from about 1/2 large bulb
- 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut into thin strips
- 1 cup radishes, sliced thinly
- 2 medium oranges, peeled and separated into segments
- 2 cups frozen baby lima beans, thawed completely
Instructions
- Pour the water into a medium saucepan and stir in the cracked freekeh. Bring the mixture to a full boil over high heat.
- Cover the saucepan and lower the heat so the grain simmers gently. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the freekeh has taken in the water.
- Take the saucepan off the heat and keep it covered for 5 minutes. Pour away any liquid that remains, then spread the freekeh across a rimmed baking sheet to cool.
- Place the mint, orange juice, lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Blend them together, then gradually whisk in the olive oil.
- Spoon 1/4 cup of the prepared dressing into a medium bowl. Add the sliced fennel, snap peas, radishes, and orange segments, tossing carefully to coat them without breaking the fruit.
- Add the cooled freekeh and thawed lima beans to the dressing left in the large bowl. Fold everything together until the grains and beans are evenly covered.
- Transfer the dressed freekeh mixture to a serving dish. Arrange the fennel and orange mixture over it, then scatter extra mint leaves on top if desired.
Notes
- Keep the finished salad refrigerated in a sealed container and serve it within 1 day.
- Cracked freekeh is a roasted young-wheat grain with a firm texture and a naturally smoky taste. Cracking the kernels helps them cook more quickly.
- Check the grain or whole-food aisle of a well-stocked supermarket when shopping for freekeh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 389
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 339 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 11 g
- Protein: 12 g
Keywords: Orange Mint Freekeh Salad, freekeh grain salad, lima bean salad, citrus mint salad