Freekeh

Freekeh is a grain made from wheat harvested while still young and green, then roasted and rubbed to remove the husk, which gives it its distinctive smoky flavour. In Lebanese and wider Levantine kitchens it is cooked much like rice or bulgur: simmered in broth and served as a side dish, often topped with chicken or meat, or added to soups and stuffings. Once cooked, it can also be tossed into salads. At Dekenet Al Nes, freekeh is sold by the kilo, so you can take just the amount you need. Dekenet Al Nes is a package-free grocery store in Baaqline, in the Chouf, Lebanon, where customers are encouraged to bring their own containers and refill essential products, helping to cut plastic waste and single-use packaging.