Wheat Berries With Vegetables Food

WHEAT BERRIES WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place wheat berries in a small stockpot over high heat. Add the water. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until tender, at least 40 minutes. Drain; set aside.
• Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli, and blanch until bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the ice bath, and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 10 minutes. Raise heat to medium, and add the tomatoes, oregano, zucchini, eggplant, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 15 minutes. Add the broccoli and wheat berries, and continue to cook until broccoli and wheat berries are heated through, about 3 minutes more. Serve.

VEGETABLE AND WHEAT BERRY CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large pot combine the wheat berries and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until most of water has been absorbed and wheat berries are chewy and tender (about 1 1/2 hours). Drain.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large ovenproof casserole or roasting pan, combine eggplant, tomatoes and their juice, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, olives, garlic, and cayenne. Mix thoroughly. Cover and bake stirring once or twice, until vegetables are tender (about 1 hour).
• To serve, stir chopped parsley and vinegar into the vegetables. Divide wheat berries among plates and top with equal amounts of the vegetables. Garnish with a parsley sprig.

WINTER WHEAT BERRY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Prepare all risotto ingredients in advance, chopping mincing and measuring.
• Warm the vegetable stock in a saucepan over low heat to the point that it is barely steaming.
• Using a large high sided sauté pan (we like a 12" pan), melt the butter and sauté onions over medium-high heat until onions are translucent and begin to break down. Add garlic and other spices of your choice and cook until fragrant.
• Add the wheat berries to the sauté mixture and stir until every wheat berry is coated with butter (if you are a little short on butter, add more until you have finished coating all wheat berries, don't skimp on the butter). Continue to cook and stir until edges of the wheat berries are translucent and the center is still opaque. You should be able to smell the aroma of toasted wheat berries.
• Add ½ cup of white wine, stirring and simmering until the wine has completely reduced and the pan is nearly dry.
• Begin adding the barely steaming vegetable broth one ladle-full at a time. When liquid is almost completely absorbed, add another ladle until you have just enough broth to cook the wheat and no more.
• After 20 minutes or so start tasting the wheat berries. The risotto is ready when the wheat berries are still a little chewy and almost creamy.
• Finally, add more ladle of broth, two tablespoons of butter and the cheese.
• Stir together and serve immediately. If the risotto stands too long, some starches may set.