i'm learning a lot about cooking with whole grains! they're cheap (especially in bulk) and nutritious. they take some time to cook (like rice), but you can add them to all sorts of things and i'm learning they make a great base for salads!
wheat berries are basically whole dried wheat kernels. i wish i could remember where i bought mine (which clearly means it was beyond time to cook them up!) but i'm sure you could find them in a bulk food store (maybe even in your grocery store, if they have a good bulk section. ours doesn't). like anything dried, a little goes a long way - 1 cup dried yields about 3 cups cooked.
i can't remember where i first saw this recipe (which is driving me nuts!) but there are a number of variations of it online (just google wheat berry and broccoli), although i didn't follow any of them exactly. i served this salad with white fish with dill sauce and corn (frozen).
Wheat Berry and Broccoli Salad - serves 4
prep time: 5 mins cook time: 45 mins
1 cup dried wheat berries
1 cup broccoli florets - the smaller you chop them, the easier they'll mix with the salad
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp red wine vinegar - i didn't have any red so i used white. i'm guessing you could substitute apple cider vinegar as well
1 tbsp parmesan cheese
Rinse the wheat berries under cold water and cook them in 3 cups of boiling water for approximately 45 minutes, or until they are chewy.
Steam the broccoli florets until just tender. Rinse them under cold water to keep the bright green colour.
Mix the wheat berries, broccoli, and walnuts in a bowl. Add the olive oil, vinegar, and parmesan cheese. Mix to blend. Serve warm.
have you ever cooked with wheat berries? have any other recipes for me?
I love quinoa! You'll have to try it. Its a bit expensive, but you only need a little bit, as it is a complete protein by itself. A lot cheaper than meat! I've used it in a cold salad, hot like rice, and it can also be eaten for breakfast, with blueberries and rice milk!
ReplyDeleteI also want to try whole buckwheat.
Both of these are great for gluten-free diets too!
So excited about following your cooking journey...I want to try a few of those recipes already!
thanks anita! i knew you'd be ready with a good idea! :)
ReplyDeletei have been curious about quinoa but haven't tried it yet. i'll have to look for it in the bulk section next time i'm at the grocery store. how long does it take to cook? do you have to soak it first?