“Delightfully refreshing, incredibly addicting, it can be the focal point of a meal. It’s colorful, hearty and has a wonderful blend of tastes and textures. You can make the base of the wheat berries, greens and lemon dressing, which will keep well for several days. When you’re ready to serve, add the extras so that they keep their texture.”
Ingredients
- 1 cup wheat berries
- 1–2 cups loosely packed dark greens (lacinato kale*, arugula*, curly kale, Russian Red kale …), chopped in ribbons
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 5–6 ounces crumbled soft goat cheese
- 1 cup dried Craisins
- 1 sliced crisp apple
- 1 cup sweet potato cubes (or 1½ cups of butternut squash cubes), pan roasted in a small amount of oil
- ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped
- Juice and zest of 2 lemons (or 6 tablespoons juice)
- ¼–½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼–½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ½–1 teaspoon agave nectar or honey
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Preparation
SALAD
Place wheat berries in a medium saucepan, cover with water to 2 inches above berries. Cover and let stand overnight or for 8 hours. (Shortcut: Pour boiling water over wheat berries; let stand 1 hour.)
Drain wheat berries. Cover again with 2 inches above berries. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cook uncovered until tender, about an hour). Drain and rinse with cold water.
Pour the lemon dressing over wheat berries. Add parsley and greens. Toss well.
Before serving add half the goat cheese. Toss gently to mix with the dressing. This mellows the very tangy, lemony dressing.
Add Craisins, apple slices and cooled pan-roasted sweet potatoes. Toss. Top with chopped nuts and the rest of the crumbled goat cheese.
LEMON DRESSING
Place lemon juice, zest, salt, pepper and agave nectar in bowl (tall and narrow if using an immersion blender)
Whisk together (or buzz with immersion blender). Continue blending or whisking; slowly pour in olive oil.
About this recipe
Local ingredients: Wheat berries from Rainbow Blossom, home-grown (or farmers’ market) kale and arugula, sweet potato and apples from local farmers’ market.
