Wheat Berries Salad with Strawberries, Walnuts & Mint

As we begin to experience those rare, deliciously warm pre-spring days, it’s nice to have a fresh, light recipe to turn to for a quick lunch or supper. This wheat berries salad recipe below from Giada De Laurentiis hits the spot with its chewy wheat berries, sweet strawberries, toasted walnuts, tangy citrus dressing and fresh, aromatic mint. Giada adds creamy goat cheese in her version to complement these flavors, but if you are avoiding dairy, you could easily leave it out.

Enjoy!

-Shanna Grimes

 

Wheat Berries with Strawberries and Goat Cheese

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Serves: 4 servings

 

Ingredients

Wheat Berries:

2 cups soft white wheat berries, rinsed and drained

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

4 cups water

1 teaspoon kosher salt

 

Dressing:

1/2 cup fresh orange juice (from 2 oranges)

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons orange zest (from 1 large orange)

2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, packed, finely chopped

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

10 medium strawberries, hulled and quartered

1/3 cup (4 ounces) crumbled goat cheese

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (see Cook’s Note)

 

Directions

For the wheat berries: In a large saucepan, combine the wheat berries, chicken broth, water, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and cook until the wheat berries are tender, 60 to 70 minutes. Drain the wheat berries in a colander and set aside to cool, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a salad bowl.

For the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, orange zest, agave nectar, mint leaves, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour the dressing over the wheat berries and add the strawberries, goat cheese, and walnuts. Toss until all the ingredients are coated.

 

Cook’s Note: To toast the walnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.