Here are a couple of soups using wheat berries:
Vegetable and Wheat Berry Soup
You can make this soup a dozen times and it will be different each time, depending on which vegetables you choose. Add poultry or other meat to please the meat-eaters in your family. However you make it, it is a flavorful way to increase the vegetables and whole grains for your friends and family.
1 c. wheat berries
10 c. of vegetable or chicken broth
2/3 c. lentils
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
6 to 8 c. of chopped vegetables of your choice, cut into ½ in. pieces
Ideas for vegetables: mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions, turnips or rutabagas, potatoes, eggplant, winter squash, red or green peppers, yams or pumpkin.
2 minced garlic cloves
2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. fresh chopped parsley
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 c. frozen peas
¼ tsp. Red pepper flakes (optional)
Cook wheat berries in broth for an hour with olive oil, thyme, basil, and garlic. Cut vegetables. Add the vegetables in the pot with the wheat berries. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add parsley, peas and soy sauce; simmer for 5 minutes.
Wheat Berry Minestrone
1 – 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1.5 lbs. ground turkey or hamburger (optional)
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
4 c. vegetable or chicken stock
2 c. water
1 c. wheat berries
4 stalks celery, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
4 diced carrots
8 c. coarsely chopped spinach or Swiss chard, or kale
28 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
2 c. cooked or canned white beans
2 c. cooked or canned garbanzo beans
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Croutons (optional)
In a large stockpot heat oil over medium heat, add optional meat, and cook until brown. Add garlic and onions and Italian seasoning and cook for another minute. Add stock, water, wheat berries, celery, pepper, carrots, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until wheat berries are almost tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir in chopped spinach, tomatoes with juice, and beans. Cook for about 10 minutes.
When ready to serve, ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if using.
Wheat Berry Pilaf
This is certainly a colorful and tasty way to serve pilaf. You can even mix it with brown rice if you prefer a two-grain version. Add meat and salad and make it the centerpiece of your meal.
2 c. wheat berries
5 c. water or chicken broth
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
½ tsp. thyme
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
½ c. chopped onion
¼ c. chopped mushrooms
¼ c. chopped red pepper
¼ c. chopped celery
¼ c. diced carrots
Bring water or broth to a boil. Add wheat berries and cook for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Sauté onion, celery, mushrooms, pepper and carrots in olive oil. Mix vegetables and wheat berries. Add bay leaf, thyme and parsley. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 30 minutes or until berries are tender.