This wheat berry salad recipe with zucchini, tomato and lemon is the result of me getting back on track with my own healthy eating regime, after the recent culinary upheaval of switching Lil’ Foodie to a gluten and casein free diet.
Cookies, cakes, breads and pizzas, all gluten-free… and about 4 pounds on me.
She will be on the diet at least through the end of the summer to see if it helps with her autism symptoms. Lucky for me my favorite way to eat wheat is as whole berries or cracked into wheat bulgur, both of which my daughter has no interest in.
Another factor in the creation of the wheat berry salad recipe, was the tomatoes I picked earlier that day. I haven’t had a great season so far with my garden. I am pretty sure I put a tad bit too much composted cow manure into my soil mix, and it has been counterproductive. Team that with a drought and a forgetful gardener, you get poor results. The tomato crop just started coming in though. These grape tomatoes are my first harvest, and went directly into this wheat salad, along with some zucchini from the market, since mine refuses to generate any squash.
- 2 cups cooked Kamut or other wheat berry (the yield from 1 cup dry)
- clove of garlic (crushed/minced)
- 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- a couple sprigs of fresh lemon thyme (regular thyme is fine, substitute ½ tsp if using the dry herb)
- 1 small zucchini
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- zest of one lemon
- 2 tbs. lemon juice
- 1½ tbs extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- *1/4 cup crumbed blue cheese (optional)
- Slice the zucchini into batons (chunkier than match-sticks).
- Put ½ tbs of olive oil in pan, with garlic, thyme and the zucchini. Lightly saute.
- Take pan off burner and add the wheat,add the lemon zest and toss together.
- Add lemon juice,remaining oil, salt and tomato and gently stir to evenly mix.
- If you choose to add the cheese, sprinkle it on the top to serve.
Where do you buy the wheat berry? I looked for it at the grocery store and couldn’t find it.
It most likely won’t be labelled as wheat berry, rather as the type of wheat (ie. Hard Spring Wheat, Kamut, Farro). I buy mine at the bulk section at Whole Foods, but most grocers should have it in the natural foods section (probably Bob’s Red Mill product line).
I generally cook wheat berries in batches before I need them, as they need to simmer for a long time (I cook mine about an hour).
Thanks so much. I saw some Bob’s Red Mill products at the grocery, but there were only a few. Our closest Whole Food’s is a half hour drive, but it may be worth the trip!