• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
butfirstchai.com
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Middle Eastern
  • South Indian
  • Subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Middle Eastern
  • South Indian
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Chicken Stews and Curries

Freekeh Soup

Modified: Mar 8, 2025 · Published: May 15, 2017 by Famidha Ashraf · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

If you want a culinary adventure that's equal parts comforting and extraordinary, you should try this phenomenal Freekeh Soup recipe. Picture tender chicken, nutty freekeh, and aromatic Middle Eastern spices in a warm, savoury broth. This soup will have you coming back for seconds (and probably thirds)! 🥣🍗🌾

A bowl of Freekeh soup with chicken along with a slice of bread and some olives.

The warmth and heartiness of this Freekeh soup makes it perfect for those chilly evenings when you're looking for a satisfying and nourishing meal. So, as the temperatures drop, consider whipping up a bowl of delicious freekeh soup to warm both your body and soul!

Jump to:
  • What is Freekeh?
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Instructions
  • How does freekeh soup taste?
  • Tip
  • FAQ
  • Related Recipes
  • More Recipes You Will Love
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments

What is Freekeh?

The name "Freekeh" originates from the Arabic word "to rub," which comes from the process of harvesting wheat while the grains are yellow and the seeds are soft. Afterward, they stack the wheat, allow it to sun-dry, and burn it to eliminate the straw and chaff while preserving the moisture-rich young seeds.

They meticulously separate this roasted and smoked wheat, followed by sun-drying to attain a uniform flavor, texture, and colour. The intriguing method of smacking, beating, or rubbing the grains is the secret behind the name "Freekeh".

The ancient grain Freekeh has been a staple in Levantine cuisine for centuries. Now, it has proudly earned a spot on the world's superfood stage, alongside the likes of Quinoa.

Ingredients and Substitutions

freekeh grains in a measuring cup.
  • Chicken: You may use bone-in or boneless with or without skin. You can also skip the stock-making process and use just water and bouillon stock cubes.
  • Whole spices: I have used cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaf and black peppercorns.
  • garlic: don't have to peel
  • onion - dont have to peel
  • olive oil
  • freekeh: the star of this dish, but if you cannot source this, you can use other kinds of wheat berries.
  • water
  • salt

Note: Freekeh comes in three sizes - whole, coarse and fine. For the soup, you need the coarse or fine-cut Freekeh.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

As the weather changed, we both ended up catching a cold. A bowl of warm soup seemed like the perfect solution. One evening, I decided to give it a shot and made a batch of soup for the two of us. I started by making some chicken stock and then cooked the Freekeh with the stock. Interestingly, just the smell of the chicken stock seemed to make me feel better.

The process is very simple:

  1. Prepare the chicken stock
  2. Fish out the chicken and strain the stock
  3. Cook the soaked freekeh with the chicken stock

If you already have stock, then this soup comes even quicker.

How does freekeh soup taste?

Freekeh has a strong earthy and nutty flavour. I read that if you like Quinoa, then you will like Freekeh too. The texture is chewy like brown rice and keeps you satiated for long as it is loaded with protein and fibre. Freekeh can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner in soup, pilaf or salad form.

While doing the dishes, I asked him what he did not like about the soup. He caught me off guard, saying, "It was good, but unique. Is this how it's made?" I explained that, indeed, this is one method of preparation, and it's a fantastic alternative to oats, being a superfood whole grain. 😄 I'm planning to chat about this grain for a few more days, helping the notion sink in that it's becoming a regular part of our diet. 😝

Thick freekeh soup in a bowl with spoon.

Tip

Since we're not big on soups, I kept this Freekeh soup on the thicker side. But if you prefer it more liquid, just add extra water to your chicken stock. And if you've got chicken or veg stock ready or store-bought, you can speed up the process. Veggies aren't in my version, but carrots are a popular choice in many Freekeh recipes.

FAQ

What is freekeh in English?

Well, Freekeh is the name of a grain, and it refers to the roasted green wheat. While Freekeh may have local names in other regions, like in India, it is called Ghau no Ponk, and there is no English name assigned for it. You will mostly find it being labelled as Freekeh or Green wheat.

Do you need to soak freekeh?

Soaking freekeh reduces the cook time drastically, thereby saving time and energy.

What is a good substitute for freekeh?

You can most certainly replace freekeh with other kinds of wheat grain, like pearl barley, whole brown wheat, jareesh, quinoa, bulgur, etc.

Related Recipes

Try these:

  • harak osbao recipe
    Harak Osbao | Horaa Osbao
  • gothambu kachiyathu recipe
    Gothambu Kachiyathu
  • aleesa recipe
    Aleesa

More Recipes You Will Love

If you love warm spices and heat of green chillies, then you should give my Afghan style chicken curry a try.

For another adventure for your culinary passion, try my lamb Mansaf recipe.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you know that commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favourite food bloggers? If you tried this recipe, please leave a review in the comments with your ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. Your feedback helps my small business thrive and allows me to continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you. Don't forget to share photos on Instagram by tagging me @butfirstchaai!

📖 Recipe Card

freekeh grain soup with chicken served in a wide bowl.

Freekeh Soup

This freekeh soup with chicken is the perfect way to refuel for Iftar! Packed with smoky, fiber-rich freekeh and tender chicken, it’s a hearty and nourishing bowl to keep you full and satisfied. Light yet comforting, this soup is great for Suhoor too! Make a batch and enjoy this wholesome Ramadan favorite.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 3 people
Calories: 545.8kcal
Author: Famidha Ashraf
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • 1 deep heavy-bottomed stew pot

Ingredients
 

For the Chicken Stock

  • 500 grams chicken bone-in pieces, bone-in (2 thighs, 2 legs) with or without skin
  • 2-inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaf
  • 2 green cardamom
  • 2 cloves
  • ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ medium onion, chopped roughly
  • salt to taste
  • 4 cups water

For the Soup

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder, or allspice powder
  • 1 cup freekeh, rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken Stock:

  • In a deep stew pot, combine all chicken stock ingredients.
    500 grams chicken bone-in pieces
    2-inch cinnamon stick
    2 bay leaf
    2 green cardamom
    2 cloves
    ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
    2 garlic cloves
    ½ medium onion
    salt to taste
  • Add enough water to cover chicken by around 3-4 centimeters.
    4 cups water
  • Bring mixture to a boil, then lower the flame to medium-low and cover.
  • Cook covered for roughly 30 minutes, until chicken is tender and water is reduced by about an inch.
  • Remove chicken from the water, shred, and discard skin and bones.
  • Strain the chicken stock into a measuring jar using a sieve. You should have around 3 to 4 cups of chicken stock. You can always add more water while cooking freekeh.

Prepare the Freekeh Soup:

  • Using the same pot, heat olive oil and sauté chopped onions until translucent.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 medium onion
  • Drain and add the freekeh, sautéing for 2 to 3 minutes to enhance its flavor.
    1 cup freekeh
  • Pour in the prepared chicken stock and stir in your choice of spices. Season with salt.
    1 teaspoon cumin powder
    salt to taste
  • Allow the soup to boil until the Freekeh is cooked, usually around 20 to 30 minutes.

Serve the Freekeh Soup:

  • Serve the hot soup with your favorite bread and olives. For an extra twist, add a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

Notes

There is no hard and fast rule in making the chicken stock. You can make a veg version by omitting the Chicken and using lots of veggies or veg stock. 

Nutrition Info

Calories: 545.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 45.23g | Protein: 29.26g | Fat: 28.12g
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: middle eastern
Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!

Recipe was inspired and loosely adapted from Dish Away and Sawsan's guest post on Manusmenu

More Chicken Stews and Curries

  • A saucepot of Afghani chicken curry with chicken leg quarters.
    Afghani Chicken Curry
  • A plate of margooga chicken served.
    Margooga (Emirati Chicken and Pastry)
  • chicken chettinad curry recipe
    Chicken Chettinad Curry
  • chicken dawood basha
    Dawood Basha with Chicken Meatballs
30 shares

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Mr.F and Famidha

Hey, I'm Famidha

An Indian chai lover in the UAE. As a passionate food blogger, I share a diverse collection of recipes spanning the Middle East and South Asia. With each dish, I aim to spark your culinary curiosity and encourage you to try new flavours and cooking methods.

about me

Popular

  • Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad
    Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

  • A bowl of cucumber salad with a small bowl of roasted peanuts by the side.
    Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

  • chickpea sundal recipe
    Chickpea Sundal

  • fatteh chickpeas
    Fatteh Hummus

Seasonal

  • Chocolate Brownies with Avocado pieces
    Chocolate Brownies with Avocado

  • chocolate salami served in a round plate.
    Chocolate Salami without Eggs

  • a plate of chocolate date balls
    Chocolate Date Balls

  • kataifi truffles with condensed milk
    Sweet Kataifi Truffles

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Media Mentions

Newsletter

  • Sign Up!

Contact

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 But first Chai

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required