Warm Freekeh Salad

Not the best photo but this salad is yum! Serve warm. And it makes a great lunch on its own. It is a variation on the Ancient Grain Salad, my most popular post ever.

It had:

• Freekeh (toasted green wheat - you can buy it from some fruit shops, health food stores and sometimes in the supermarket. Just cook according to the instructions. You could substitute brown rice if you want. Or farro or even barley.) This is the one I buy:

• You cook freekeh like rice - so in the same bowl (I microwave and use the absorption method) I also add some currants and chopped dates and a splash more water - this way they puff up nicely at the same time. I also grate in a bit of lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon while I'm at it. Orange is also pretty good
• Chick peas - I use the organic canned one from the supermarket - just drain
• Chorizo - cut into small-ish pieces and fried in a pan until crispy (you have to keep a very close eye on this as it seems to be irresistible to anyone in the kitchen who thinks it's okay to pick at it!!)
• Toasted almond slivers and sesame seeds - just done in a cast iron pan on the stove
• Loads of cinnamon and ground cumin and a good pinch of sea salt
• Fresh mint and coriander
• Diced celery for some fresh crunch
• Pomegranate for an explosion of sweetness

That's it. Toss together, sprinkle the nuts and seeds on the top and add some extra leaves of fresh herbs.