Feta Wheat-Berry Salad

Feta Wheat-Berry Salad, which is basically a Greek salad with the addition of wheat berries, is one of my favorite summer recipes. Wheat berries are whole kernels of wheat without the hull, are an excellent source of fiber, and have a chewy texture when cooked. My folks went through a health food kick when I was growing up so Mom snuck wheat berries into a variety of foods (homemade bread, casseroles, hot cereal, etc.).

I pretty much follow the recipe for the salad except for reducing the amount of red onions to 1/4 cup, substituting 1/2 cup fresh red bell peppers for the roasted peppers, and increasing the olives to 1/3 cup (I use kalamata olives). For the veggies, I chop them into small pieces (instead of julienning), and I usually just use Italian parsley (not a blend of herbs). I always let the cooked wheat berries cool before making the salad. Enjoy!

Feta Wheat-Berry Salad

-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

1 cup wheat, spelt, or rye berries (available at natural foods stores)

1/2 cup diced Feta (about 2 ounces)

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (I use 1/4 cup)

1/2 cup julienne strips of seedless cucumber

5 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup julienne strips of drained bottled roasted red pepper (I use 1/2 cup fresh red bell pepper)

1/4 cup mixed minced fresh herbs such as parsley, mint, and dill plus herb sprigs for garnish

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste

1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

1 tablespoon chopped pitted brine-cured black olives (I use 1/3 cup chopped Kalamata olives)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 garlic clove, minced

dried hot red pepper flakes to taste

In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the wheat berries for 1 hour, or until they are tender, and drain them. In a large bowl stir together the wheat berries, the Feta, the onion, the cucumber, the oil, the roasted pepper, the minced herbs, the lemon juice, the vinegar, the olives, the cumin, the garlic, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste and garnish the salad with the herb sprigs.