Recipe: Cypriot Grain Salad

Experience the bold flavours of the Mediterranean with the Hellenic Republic's Cypriot Grain Salad. Featuring freekeh, Puy lentils, and an assortment of nuts, it offers a satisfying blend of textures, heightened by the sweetness of currants and the tang of capers. Topped with a cumin yogurt dressing and vibrant pomegranate seeds, this salad is a robust and visually appealing addition to your Christmas table, injecting a burst of Mediterranean taste into your holiday spread. This Christmas, let the Cypriot Grain Salad take the spotlight, delivering a refreshing and flavorful twist to your festive feast.

Image: Hellenic Republic's Cypriot Grain Salad

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 1 cup thick Greek yoghurt

• 1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground

• 1 tbsp honey

Salad:

• 1 bunch coriander, chopped

• 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped

• 1/2 red onion, finely diced

• 1 cup freekeh (or cracked wheat or quinoa)

• 1/2 cup Puy lentils

• 2 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds

• 2 tbsp toasted slivered almonds

• 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts

• 2 tbsp baby capers

• 1/2 cup currants

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• Sea salt to taste

• 1 pomegranate, deseeded, to serve (cut in half and smack with a wooden spoon into a bowl)

Method:

1. Blanch Freekeh and Lentils:

   • Blanch the freekeh and lentils separately in boiling water until just cooked.

   • Drain well and allow them to cool.

2. Prepare the Dressing:

   • Mix the Greek yogurt, ground cumin, and honey until well combined.

3. Assemble the Salad:

   • In a medium bowl, combine the chopped coriander, chopped parsley, finely diced red onion, blanched and cooled freekeh, blanched and cooled lentils, toasted pumpkin seeds, toasted slivered almonds, toasted pine nuts, baby capers, currants, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil.

   • Mix well and season to taste with sea salt.

4. Serve:

   • Place the salad into a serving dish.

   • Top the salad with the cumin yogurt dressing and sprinkle deseeded pomegranate seeds on top.

5. Enjoy:

   • Serve this delightful Cypriot Grain Salad as a refreshing and nutritious dish. The combination of grains, nuts, herbs, and the cumin yogurt dressing creates a symphony of flavors. Enjoy!