Artisan Grains Greenwheat Freekeh

This interesting box of grains I came upon by pure chance whilst in the Wholefoods section of Tesco. I didn't go out searching for it but spotting it upon shelf, I knew it was something I wanted to try.

This freekeh works in a similar way to other carb side dishes with meals like couscous, rice or bulghar wheat. The only difference with this is that it seems to be more like quinoa with a lower carb content and a very high protein content to keep you going. It has 18.5g of protein per 100g - more than Greek yoghurts! It's also high in fibre, low in salt, sugar and fat and has a low GI of 43. All in all, it's pretty healthy!

This was on special offer at the time I bought it at £1.29 and I think it should have been around £1.69 if I remember correctly. The bag contains 200g, which is supposedly 4 servings so it does cost a bit more than things like rice, noodles or couscous. However, with its health benefits and high protein content for a grain I am happy to pay the premium.

It's extremely easy to cook - just as simple as rice or couscous as opposed to the long boiling time for things like black eyed beans. The pack recommends adding some olive oil and salt and then just covering with boiling water and simmering for 15 minutes. So very quick and hassle free.

I then just stirred through a variety of veg and served it as an accompaniment to a chicken escalope. Texturally, it's similar to couscous - nice and bobbly with a soft, nubbly texture. It's probably a more complex taste though - a lot more nutty and it has a bit more bite and holds its own. The olive oil really enhances it and I could quite happily eat a bowl of this by itself. It doesn't paricularly absorb sauces as much as couscous I would say and would tend to work better for things like salads or as an accompaniment as I did.

The pack also gives loads of great recommendations for serving suggestions - things like a healthier alternative to egg fried rice, as a stuffing for chicken, a Tabbouleh style salad and a sundried tomato, feta and basil dish. All of them sound really delcious and I think I was a bit unimaginative with my first cook of it so I'm really looking forward to eating this in lots of different ways!

Available: Tesco
Price: £1.29 on promotion

Pros: High protein, low GI carb, lots of fibre, lots of ways to cook it and use it, tastes delicious and makes a nice alternative to other grains
Cons: Less servings per pack than other grains so slightly more costly

Score: 8/10