The whole grain of wheat is more commonly known as "wheat berry." You can simmer wheat berries with water or stock in much the same manner you would prepare rice, oats or any other grain. The fully cooked wheat berry is tender but chewy and you can eat it as a breakfast cereal or use it to add texture and nutritional value to soups or as the basis for salads such as the Middle Eastern favorite, tabbouleh.
Step 1
Rinse and sort the wheat berries, removing any debris or discolored grains.
Step 2
Cover the wheat berries with water and soak them in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 3
Discard the soaking water.
Step 4
Place the wheat berries in a medium saucepan and cover them with water or stock, using 4 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wheat.
Step 5
Bring the wheat to a boil over medium-high heat.
Step 6
Reduce the heat and simmer covered for about an hour or until the wheat is tender.
Step 7
Divide the cooked wheat into bowls and top each with a pat of butter and a drizzle of honey to serve it as a breakfast cereal or add the wheat to the recipe of your choice.
Tips and Warnings
- If you don't have time to soak the wheat overnight, you can skip that step. Simply rinse the berries and proceed to the cooking steps, but allow an extra 30 minutes of simmering time.
Things You'll Need
- Medium saucepan with lid
- Vegetable, chicken or beef stock, optional
- 1 to 4 tsp. honey, optional
- 1 to 4 tsp. butter or margarine, optional
References
- "366 Delicious Ways to Cook Rice, Beans and Grains"; Andrea Chesman; 1998
- "New Good Food: Essential Ingredients for Cooking and Eating Well"; Margaret Wittenburg; 2007
- "Homegrown Whole Grains: How to Grow, Harvest and Cook Your Own Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rice, Corn & More"; Sara Pitzer; 2009
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