Happy Meatless Monday! I’m popping in quickly to share a delicious and easy Italian theme Freekeh Salad. I call it the Red, White, and Green Freekeh Salad (with Pesto), because as I was chopping ingredients to make it I noticed that they all were, well, red, white, and green! Brilliant! That, along with the Freekeh Foods Freekeh Rosemary Sage
As you read this, I am in Tempe, Arizona, where I will finally be attending my Fascial Stretch Therapy Certification class starting today (Monday). It lasts all week, basically 9-5:30 every day, so you may not see much of me this week. I do have a couple things planned though, so stay tuned.
For this salad, I used that last bag of freekeh that I won from Fit Approach. I’d better hurry and order more, because I’ve been loving this easy-to-cook, delicious grain. I also used the leftover pesto from my favorite Pesto Pizza (<– You can find the pesto recipe there.). Note: If you’re gluten intolerant, this recipe will work beautifully with rice or quinoa too.
Red, White, and Green Freekeh Salad with Pesto
Ingredients
1 package Rosemary Sage Freekeh Foods freekeh, prepared according to package directions
10 ounces kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup roasted pinenuts
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons basil, chopped
1/2 cup vegan pesto
Directions
After preparing the freekeh, allow it to cool for about 15 minutes, then spoon it into a large bowl.
Gently stir of other ingredients except the pesto.
Add the pesto and stir again, gently, until thoroughly mixed.
Set aside or refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
Can be served warm or chilled.
Serves 4-6
So here I am, in my hotel room, where I’ll be staying for the next five days. The internet, I have found, is iffy. It tends to go in and out, so I’ve been in fear of losing my work all evening as I wrote this. My recipe plugin did not work either, which I assume is because of the poor internet connection.
I did manage to get out and explore a little. I found the location of my class for tomorrow morning, the Whole Foods, where I picked up some breakfast items and snacks, then managed to navigate back to the hotel without using the GPS, indicating I have a small concept of where I actually am. I found a vegan Thai restaurant and brought home some delicious curry and spring rolls (you’ll have to check Instagram for those pics for now).
And now, after a very long day, which started about 4:00 am, a run, and about four hours of driving, I’m exhausted (and rambling a little, can you tell?). I wish you all a good evening. Check back tomorrow for my review of my Prana Monarch Convertible Pants (and remember you can save 15% on your purchase with the code LiveInprAnaF15CDR).
Oh, and, if you’re a female blogger you’ll understand my excitement, this post got shared by the Sits Girls on Twitter with their 42,000 followers! Kind of made my day. (Definitely rambling)
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My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Tina and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Anything Goes with Marilyn
Bonnie, the Pin Junkie
Tip Tuesday with Debbie in Shape
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Michelle, Sarah, and Angelena Marie
Wednesday Wisdom with Nanna’s Wisdom
The Blog Booster Party with Kathleen
Friday Fitness with Jill
I have yet to try Freekeh. Now I have the perfect recipe to test it out. Yum! Enjoy your class Debbie!
Thanks! I’m pretty excited about this class. The freekeh is great. You really can use it in any recipe that you’d usually use rice or quinoa, or other grain.
OH I SO SO UNDERSTAND.
When my post was shared by the SITS GIRLS I was so excited as well.
xo
They also shared it on their Saturday Sharefest. I feel like I’ve arrived! (not just that they shared it, but that they felt it was share-worthy 🙂 ).
Wooo! Have fun! I am loving your freekeh recipes, that is something I have on my list to try. Kamut was another, so I am working my way through. I love anything with pesto, and I love the combination of ingredients here…..definitely a tina fave recipe. Thanks for joining us for meatless monday!
Thanks Tina. It’s nice to have you back :-). Freekeh is fun (more than just saying the name). And I love pesto too. I’ve never tried kamut. There are a couple other grains I’ve heard of recently too that I’ve yet to try.
I just bought more freekeh yesterday! It is on sale at whole foods. Sadly, any savings I earned by buying it was taken back by them putting in the wrong code and over charging me (which I discovered when i got home) for one of my fruit selections. Just a few dollars, but still.
Oh, man. I hate when that happens. I was just at Whole Foods yesterday, darn it. Though I was thinking in terms of breakfast and snacks for while I’m living it up in a hotel this week. I’m sure I’ll be back there before the end of the week though 🙂
Congrats on your post being shared, that is totally awesome!!! Love the recipe (YUM PESTO), thanks for linking up! 🙂
Thanks. It feels pretty good when the Sits Girls appreciate your post. They shared it on Saturday Sharefest too. Now I just wish some more of those followers would stop by my blog!
I am loving the Freekeh as well. How did we not know about it until now?! Your training sounds really interesting can’t wait to hear about it. Thanks for linking up today!
I’m really excited about my class. It will be exhausting though. Everyday from 9-5:30, a lot of physical stuff as we learn the method of stretching. The upside is we get to practice on each other 🙂
I’m all for anything Italian!! I did something similar with my freekeh over the weekend – but I didn’t add in pesto.. that sounds amazing!
The pesto is a great addition. The first time I made it I admit it was only because I had the leftover pesto on hand. Now I would totally make the pesto for this dish.
So excited to learn more about your stretching knowledge!!!!!!
This dish looks amazing too! PLUS congrats on the RT!!!!!!
Thanks Jody. My brain is so overloaded right now that it may explode before the end of the week:-).
i keep hearing that freekeh is the new quinoa but havent yet tried it. the idea of this salad with pesto sounds really really good right now.
Freekeh is a good alternative, just another option that is easy and delicious. And it’s fun to say too :-).
I’ve never heard of freekeh. Thanks for sharing this interesting food and your recipe at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.