Literally bursting with flavour, this leek, cauliflower and butterbean freekeh salad is so good. It's a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner that’s suitable for vegans.
This vegan freekeh recipe really makes veg the star of the meal.
Delicious roasted cauliflower, fried leeks and delicious butterbeans are mixed with freekeh, parsley and sumac to create this wonderful vegan freekeh salad.
What is freekeh?
If you haven't heard of freekeh before then you're not alone - I only tried it for the first time last year. Freekah is green wheat that's harvested when it's still young. It's then roasted, dried (often in the sun) and cracked. I picked mine up in my local health food shop but I've also seen it in the supermarket.
It's easy to cook - freekeh just needs to be boiled for 15 minutes. You can buy it pre-cooked in microwave sachets to make it even easier.
Freekeh is a great substitute for rice or other grains. It has a deliciously chewy texture and I really love it, especially in this salad.
How to serve freekeh salad
I prefer to serve this leek, butterbean and roasted cauliflower freekeh salad warm. Mind you it’s lovely cold as well if you prefer.
It's deliciously versatile. While it makes a delicious vegetarian or vegan lunch it's also a lovely side dish.
I like to serve it with a green salad, hummus and a little pitta bread.
Roasting cauliflower
Roasting cauliflower transforms it into one of the most beautiful foods in existence.
If your memories of cauliflower consist of over boiled mush, perhaps served up in a school canteen, then you have to try it roasted. I guarantee it'll change your mind.
Read more about how to cook cauliflower on my other site, Sneaky Veg.
Have you tried freekeh before? What vegan freekeh recipes do you like? Let me know in the comments below.
More cauliflower recipes you might like
If you like this you might like these other cauliflower recipes:
- cauliflower hummus
- creamy vegan cauliflower cheese
- parsnip, chickpea and cauliflower korma
- tandoori cauliflower recipe
- lentil and roasted cauliflower pasta sauce
- harissa roasted whole cauliflower
Pin vegan freekeh salad with cauliflower, leeks and butterbeans for later
How to make leek, cauliflower and freekeh salad
If you have made this recipe and loved it please consider leaving a comment and rating below.
Leek, cauliflower and butterbean freekeh salad
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 200 g freekeh
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium leeks washed and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 400 g butterbeans tinned weight
- 1 tsp sumac
- Small handful of flatleaf parsley finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6.
- Break the cauliflower into florets, drizzle with olive oil and fennel seeds and roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring half way.
- Cook the freekeh according to the packet instructions. Drain when cooked and set aside.
- When the cauliflower is almost done fry the leeks in olive oil, stirring often, until cooked. Add the crushed garlic and cook for a further minutes. Add the butterbeans, cooked freekeh, roasted cauliflower and chopped parsley. Stir well, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with sumac before serving.
Nutrition
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Wayne Sheman
Do you have recipes with nutritional values?
Cook Veggielicious
Unfortunately not yet but it's something I'll be working on soon
Janice Pattie
Your salads are sensational, I'd never have thought of putting those ingredients together.
Cook Veggielicious
Thanks Janice - it's a really good one. Hope you like it if you give it a try.