Wheat berries are whole wheat kernels that become appealingly chewy when cooked, and bulgur, a Middle Eastern staple, is crushed dried wheat kernels (best known as the basis for tabbouleh). Together they make a nutritious and satisfying salad (the grains are hearty and filling) that can stand alone as a meal or work as a side dish with grilled lamb chops or crispy seared fish. I’ve called for celery hearts because I love their sweetness, but regular stalks of celery work just fine.
I always chop golden raisins. I like the taste, but it's a quirk of mine that I don't like to bite into a whole raisin. By all means leave them whole if you like. If you're not a cilantro lover, leave it out or substitute some fresh basil.
Recipe information
Yield
4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Place the wheat berries, a sprinkling of salt, and enough water to cover them by 2 inches in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the wheat berries are tender but not mushy, about 45 minutes. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, place the bulgur in a large bowl and cover with 1 1/2 cups of steaming hot water. Let it sit about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is soft. (I always taste it; the bulgur shouldn’t have any crunch or hard edges.) Add the cooked wheat berries to the bulgur.
Step 2
Whisk together the citrus zests, juices, olive oil, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl. Add the dressing to the grains and toss well. Add the parsley, mint, cilantro, olives, raisins, and celery hearts, and use a rubber spatula to combine enough to moisten all ingredients. Taste again for seasonings, adding additional salt, citrus juice, or olive oil as needed.
