Auntie Dawndra’s Favorite Wheat Berry Salad

GG’s Wheat Berries, half a bag thawed
Garbanzo beans, 1 can
Cherry tomatoes, one pint
Veganaise, 3-4 tbsp’s
Cucumbers
Red wine vinaigrette, 2 tbsp’s
Red pepper flakes (as much as you’d like)

Combine all.   Add more or less ingredients based on what’s hanging out in the fridge drawer.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Feel better!

Caramelized Wheat Berries with Goat Cheese

GG’s Wheat Berries, few handfuls per person
Kale, big bunch
Caramelized onions
(two onions, sliced thin, cooked over med. heat 15-25 in couple tbsp. olive oil)
Goat cheese, as much as you like
Balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup

Chop kale and cook in a bit of oil until tender. Add thawed wheat berry. Put on plates, top with good helping of caramelized onions and goat cheese.  Place few slices of steak on each if using.  In small saucepan bring balsamic vinegar and maple syrup to boil. Reduce by half. Drizzle all over. Eat!   
Don’t have kale?  Try spinach or collard greens.  No goat cheese?  Try feta, or whatever salty cheese you have around or just thin a little sour cream with lemon juice or milk and drizzle on the top.  Yummm.

Creamy Avocado Wheat Berry Salad and Dip

GG's Wheat Berries, 2 cups thawed
Tomato, 1 chopped
Avocado, 1 chopped
Red Onion, 1/4 cup chopped
Mayonnaise, 1/2 cup (or veganaise!)
Vinegar, 1 tbsp (red wine, apple cider, white-whatever)
Sugar, 1 tsp
Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste


Combine all but avocado and stir well.  Add chopped avocado and gently stir.  Perfect as a stand-alone lunch, side dish for dinner or dip with some whole wheat crackers.

Creamy Wheat Berry Breakfast

GG's Wheat Berries, 1 1/2 cups thawed
Milk, 1 1/2 cup
Honey, 2 tbsp.
Dates, 1/2 cup chopped
Cinnamon, big pinch
Salt, pinch

Combine milk and honey, bring to low boil.  Add GG's Wheat Berries.  Boil for 30 minutes, skimming off the skin every 10 minutes.  Stir in dates cook for 15 more minutes.  Great way to start the day.

Easy Wheat Berry Chili-Big Pot

GG’s Wheat Berries (one bag)
Black beans, 1 can drained
Navy beans, 1 can drained
Red Beans, 2 cans drained
Frozen corn, 1 cup
Yellow onion, 1 whole chopped
Stewed tomatoes, 1 large can or two small with juices
Cumin, 2 tbsp’s
Chili powder 2 tbsp’s
Cayenne pepper (how ever hot you like it-1 tsp=light heat, 2 tbsp=heavy heat)

Sautee’ chopped onion in a large pot in a bit of oil on med-high heat until soft, 8-10 minutes.  Add everything else.  Bring to a low boil then simmer 30 minutes (if you have the time) so flavors can mix.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Remember to add whatever veggies you have hanging around.  Got some leftover hamburger, steak, meatballs or chicken?  Throw em’ in too.  This chili loves it all!

Grains, Collards & Coconut Milk

GG's Quinoa, 1/2 bag (or Brown Rice or Wheat Berries!)
Collard greens, big ol' bunch
Coconut milk, half a can, more or less
Lemon, 1
Chili flakes (optional)


Chop the greens very coarsely. Put them in a saucepan with the coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Cook on medium for a about 5 minutes. Add quinoa (or GG's Brown Rice or Wheat Berries) and cook for another 5 minutes or so until you get the greens the consistency you prefer. I'm more of an 'al dente' greens girl. Plate your greens and squirt it all with some fresh lemon and sprinkle with chili flakes if you like. So good and simple. If you aren't in the mood for grains, chop the greens small and toss the coconut milk/greens mixture with some pasta or rice noodles.

Italian Wheat Berry Salad

GG's Wheat Berries, 2 cups, thawed
Carrots, 2 sliced into rounds
Garbanzo beans, 1 can
Black olives, 1 can sliced
Red onion, 1/2 chopped
Garlic, 1 clove minced
Fresh herbs, 3/4 cup, chopped (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, etc)
Olive oil, 1/2 cup
Red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup
Sugar, 1 tsp.
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste


Whisk herbs, oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper together. Toss with the rest of the ingredients in glass or wooden bowl.  Let flavors blend for 1/2 hour.  Delicious as a stand-alone salad or on top of a bed of hearty greens.  Also fab with corn chips as a loose dip.  Goes great with grilled chicken or ribs. 

Mamaw’s Wheat Berry Wraps

• GG’s Wheat Berries, half a bag thawed
• Collard greens, steamed or sautéed until soft but still intact and workable
• Bacon, half dozen strips cooked and chopped
• Onion, half one large, chopped and cooked in bacon grease until soft
• Apple cider vinegar, 1-2 tbsp’s

Wring out cooled collard greens and lay flat on a cutting board.  Combine wheat berries, bacon, onion and vinegar in a bowl.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Place a few spoonfuls of wheat berry mixture in collard green, fold in two sides and roll up lengthwise so all sides are sealed.  Eat hot or room temp. 

Melissa's Curried Mango & Wheat Berry Salad

GG's Wheat Berries, 1-2 cups, frozen
Mango, 1 sliced
Greens of your choice, big handful
Red curry paste, big tbsp
Lemon, 1
Salt, pepper
Olive oil, tbsp or so
Avocado, 1 sliced (optional)


Heat wheat berries in saucepan over medium heat.  Add olive oil, salt, pepper and curry paste.  Heat thoroughly. Add sliced mango and heat for a minute or two.  Arrange greens of your choice in two bowls.  Top with hot wheat berry mixture.  Squeeze generous amount of lemon over the top.  Garnish with avocado!

Super Fresh Wheat Berry Salad

GG’s Wheat Berries, 3-4 big handfuls, thawed
Walnuts, handful chopped and toasted (dry med-high skillet until you can smell em’)
Dried fruit, handful, whatever you’ve got-cherries are particularly fab
Green onion, small handful chopped
Celery, big handful chopped small
Olive oil, couple tbsp’s
Lemon juice, couple tbsp’s

Combine everything in a bowl omit things or add things (anyone smell bacon in this?).  Salt and pepper.  Eat.

Sweet Wheat Berry Breakfast

GGs Wheat Berries, 1 cup

Yogurt, 1 cup plain(greek is best!)

Maple syrup, 1/4 cup

Butter, 2 tbsps.

Pear, 1 chopped

Dried fruit of your choice, 1/2 cup

Almonds, 1/4 more or less, chopped

Heat wheat berries and butter in a saucepan until hot.  Mix in maple syrup and dried fruit.  Divide yogurt into two or three bowls and top with hot wheat berry mixture.  Sprinkle chopped pear and almonds on top.  So hearty, so delicious, so quick.  Eggs schmeggs.
Recipe from Carrie Z., one of our wheat berry-lovin' testers.  Thanks!

Wheat Berry Apple-Crouton Salad

GG's Wheat Berries, 2 cups
Apple, 1 large, chopped (hard, tart are best)
Peas, half a frozen bag
Croutons 1-2 cups (homemade are best, and easy)
Balsamic vinaigrette, 1/4 cup


Toss everything together.  It's that simple.  To make croutons just cube some old bread, toss with a couple tbsps olive oil, some salt and herbs (if you like) then spread them on a pan and bake at 375 for 10 minutes. To make a balsamic vinaigrette just whisk 1/4 balsamic with 1 cup olive oil and a tbsp. or so of fresh or dried herbs.  If you have the dressing and croutons already made this salad takes less than 5 minutes to put together! Check the blog on this one.

Wheat Berry Edamame Salad

• GG’s Wheat Berries, half bag thawed
• Black beans, one can rinsed and drained
• Edamame, about 1 cup shelled and thawed 
• Tomato, 1 large, chopped
• Red onion, about ½ cup chopped small
• Olive oil, 3-4 tbsp’s
• Red wine vinegar, 2-3 tbsp’s

Toss all ingredients together. Let flavors blend for a 15 minutes. Goes great with grilled chicken or fish. Perfect for a summer picnic, as a stand-alone lunch or side salad for any dinner.  Add roasted corn, cubed sweet potatoes or fresh snap peas!

Wheat Berry Pablano Dip & Spread

GG's Wheat Berries, 1 1/2 cup, thawed
Poblano chilis, 2
Serrano chilis, 4, or 2 jalepenos
Garlic, 2 cloves
Lime, 1-2
Cilantro, chopped, 1/2 cup or so
Red, white or rice vinegar, 1/8-1/4 cup
Olive oil, 1/4 cup
Salt and pepper



Char poblanos on gas stove top, grill, or under broiler until blackened on both sides, about 10 minutes total.  Immediately put them in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  In the meantime in food processor place garlic, cilantro, olive oil, vinegar, lime, and serranos.  Blend until smooth but still slightly chunky.  Peel and seed poblanos.  Add to processor along with wheat berries.  Pulse until relatively smooth.  Salt and pepper to taste. 
Serve with chips or veggies.  Serve along side fish or as a sit-in for guacamole on tacos or burritos.  Use as a sandwich spread or dollop some in a bowl of soup.  Get creative with something so good for you and versatile too!

Wheat Berry Risotto w/Mushrooms & Rosemary

GG's Wheat Berry, half bag
Onion, white or yellow, 1 cup chopped
Button mushrooms, about 10 (or any of your choice-porcini would be amazing)
Garlic, 2 cloves, finely chopped
Rosemary, 3 heaping tbsp fresh, finely chopped
Vegetable broth, 2 cups
White wine, 1 cup
Parmesan, 1 cup fresh shaved (optional)


Saute onion in a bit of olive oil on medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and rosemary and cook until liquid is released, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add wheat berries, 1/2 cup wine and 1/2 cup vegetable broth. Turn heat up to medium high and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Stir frequently. Add another 1/2 cup wine and 1/2 cup vegetable broth. Cook until liquid is absorbed. Add last full cup of vegetable broth and cook until liquid is absorbed. Stir in cheese if using. This recipe is insanely delicious. So good for you. So filling. So satisfying to cook and serve!

Wheat Berry Salad w/Walnuts & Peas

Combine all ingredients.  Serve with whole wheat crackers.  Fantastic as a snack and plenty filling enough for a meal.

Wheat Berry Sweet Potato Muffins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease 12 cup muffin tins or use paper muffin cups.  Beat sugar and butter, add eggs and sour cream.  Add dry ingredients.  Stir in GG's Wheat Berries and sweet potato.  Fill muffin tins and sprinkle tops with sugar and oatmeal if you'd like.  Bake 15-18 minutes.  Your kids will have no idea these are packed with fiber and nutrients!

Wheat Berry Tapanade

• GG’s Wheat Berries, 1 cup thawed
• Garlic, 3-4 cloves, chopped
• Kalamata olives, about a cup finely chopped and pitted
• Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon or so

Combine all ingredients.  Serve with pita crisps, pita bread, fresh veggies and/or feta.  This is a super easy way to throw together a fancy appetizer for surprise guests.

Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad

GG's Wheat Berries, 1 1/2 cup, thawed
Apple, 1, chopped
Red grapes, 1/2 cup, sliced
Celery, 1 stalk, sliced
Walnuts, 1/2 cup, chopped
Mayonnaise or Vegannaise, 1/4 cup
Dijon mustard, 1 1/2 tbsp.
Brown sugar, 1 tsp.
Lemon juice, 2 tbsp.




Combine all ingredients in your favorite salad bowl. If you'd like it creamier add some sour cream or more mayo. Perfect for a summer picnic or as a staple hearty side salad any time of the year.