Wheat Berry Salad with Apples and Cranberries
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Aug. 17, 2022
If you haven’t tried wheat berries, you’re in for a treat. This Wheat Berry Salad with Apples and Cranberries is toothsome, flavorful, and healthy. You’ll create serious lunch envy with this recipe.
Wheat berries have shot into foodie fame these past couple of years. It’s funny how the old things become new again. Wheat berries are essentially whole wheat kernels that have had their husks removed. They’re a powerhouse of nutrition and fiber. And they’re finally getting noticed.
Kinda like farro. It’s super fun watching these age-old whole grains get the lunch spotlight.
Hubby was the one who requested this wheat berry salad one fine day. It was actually quite a long time ago when he brought it up. Said something about trying a wheat berry salad with buddies at work, yada yada.
I was probably eating cookies and ignored him.
Now I wish I’d listened up sooner, ’cause this wheat berry salad is crazy good…
These plump and hearty grains are truly worth trying, if you haven’t jumped on board yet.
With a toasty, nutty flavor and a chewy texture, whole wheat berries are magnificent in soups, stews and salads.
They’re wholesome, hearty, unprocessed, and just plain satisfying. Wheat berries will rock your salad and make it a healthy dish you’re actually eager to eat.
We created a wheat berry salad loaded with apples, cranberries, oranges, baby kale, and toasty pecans. The colors and textures jive delightfully with the flavors.
This salad has it all: healthy, nutritious, and delicious.
And the dressing? It’s sweet, tangy, and drizzly perfection.
Here’s to creating some serious lunch (or dinner) envy.
And not feeling one snippet of guilt at all.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Wheat Berry Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 cup whole wheat berries, dry
- 1 large apple, chopped
- 1 orange, peeled and segmented
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 2 stalks green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup baby kale leaves
- 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
For the Dressing:
- 3 TB extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TB pure honey
- 1 TB apple cider vinegar
- 1 TB freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ⅛ tsp table salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep ahead: Make the dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a bowl, whisking to combine well, and keep covered/chilled until ready to use.
- In a large heavy pot, cook wheat berries according to package directions -bring to a boil in water that's 2 inches above the wheat berries and boil uncovered for one hour, or to your desired level of tenderness.
- Drain cooked wheat berries and let cool to room temperature. If desired, run it under cold water to help cool faster. Drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked wheat berries with apples, orange segments, cranberries, green onions, and baby kale. Toss well with prepared dressing.
- Season with additional salt and pepper, as needed. Sprinkle toasted pecans into the salad right before serving.
Notes
- Cook the wheat berries ahead of time and let them cool. Draining well is important to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Feel free to substitute the pecans with other nuts, such as walnuts or almonds. You can also omit the nuts or use seeds for a nut-free version.
- This salad keeps well overnight, making leftovers perfect for lunch the next day.
- This recipe is part of our Easy Salad Recipes Collection.
- Pair this delicious salad with your favorite proteins, such as Grilled chicken or Air Fryer Salmon.
Nutrition (per serving)
Source: Chew Out Loud
Getting our Grains On…
- Farro Salad with Butternut and Avocado. Nutrition meets flavor.
- Mexican Rice Salad. Both healthy and delish.
- 30-Minute Mexican Chicken and Quinoa Stew. Clean, healthy, and oh-s0-good.
- Southwestern Barley Salad. Awesome way to get barley in your belly.