Name: Wheat Berry and Sour Cherry Citrus Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 cups hard wheat berries; 3/4 cup tart dried cherries (halved); 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans; 3 stalks celery (finely sliced); 1 small red onion (finely sliced); 3 cups small spinach leaves; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; Zest and juice of 1 large lemon; Zest and juice of 1 small orange; Kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Wheat Berry and Sour Cherry Citrus Salad

A wheat berry (also called hard red winter wheat) is the entire wheat kernel minus the hull, and when milled, produces whole wheat flour. This whole grain (make sure not to buy “pearled”; while quicker to cook, it has been stripped of most of its fiber) has a nutty and chewy texture and is slightly sweet. Wheat berries can be prepared and enjoyed much like faro – my other favorite, considerably more expensive, whole grain. Swap your usual rice salad for this wheat-berry version as a wonderful way to mix up your repertoire.

Wheat Berry and Sour Cherry Citrus Salad

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

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Servings

Ingredients

2 cups hard wheat berries
3/4 cup tart dried cherries halved
3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
3 stalks celery finely sliced
1 small red onion finely sliced
3 cups small spinach leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
Zest and juice of 1 small orange
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

Cook wheat berries according to package instructions.
Toss warm wheat berries with cherries, pecans, celery, onion, spinach, oil, and lemon and orange juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Top with crumbled feta and freshly cracked black pepper just before serving.
Recipe originally published in JOY of KOSHER with Jamie Geller Magazine Winter 2014 Subscribe Now