Wheat Berry Salad

Wheat kernals, raw

Wheat berries, after cooking

Wheat berries are simply wheat kernals that have been soaked and cooked.  They have a nutty flavor and are chewy.  Many people use wheat berries in several different ways, but tonight I just wanted to add some to a salad.

To make the wheat berries, I measured about one cup of wheat kernals.  I added about 3 cups of water and allowed them to soak all day.  Then I turned up the heat and boiled them on high for about thirty minutes.  Some recipes call for the exact opposite-boil for 30 minutes, then let them soak all day.    You can also cook them in a slow cooker on low heat for a few hours.


Here is one we threw together tonight:
Fresh spinach
Two D'Anjou pears, diced
Dried cranberries, 1/4 cup
Wheat berries

For the dressing:
Juice one orange by hand
1/4 cup Olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Whisk that all together

Toss your salad with dressing and serve.