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Warm Wheat Berry Breakfast

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I remember as a kid, that occasionally on Sunday nights we would have a ‘special’ dinner.  We called it Hot Porridge and we all loved it.  Now that I am an adult I look back and realize that it was just cooked wheat berries!  We would drizzle a little honey and a splash of milk on it and eat it up.  I haven’t eaten it in years and the other day I saw a picture of cooked wheat berries and the memories of hot porridge came flooding back and I got a hankering to make it.  If you have never tried it, then you might be a little startled by the texture – it is very chewy!  But that is honestly one of my favorites parts about it – the texture.  There really isn’t another food quite like it.

 

You might be wondering what a wheat berry even is?? Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed wheat kernels that contain all three parts of the grain, including the germ, bran and starchy endosperm.  Only the hull, the inedible outer layer of the grain, has been removed. As a result, wheat berries retain all of the grain’s vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

 

Whole grains have a lot of health benefits.  Studies continue to show that consuming whole grains can help lower the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.  Research has also shown that eating whole grains vs. refined can help with weight control.  One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition followed the eating habits of over 70,000 women and found that those who consumed the most whole grains consistently weighed less than those who ate the least.

 

And if feeling incredibly healthy isn’t enough to knock your socks off when you eat this breakfast, then the honey infused yogurt and tangy dried apricots may just do the trick.

To begin, fill a pot with wheat berries and water.  You will want a 3:1 ratio.  I used 1 cup of wheat berries and 3 cups of water. Get it boiling and then turn it to low so that it is simmering and cover.

 

Cook for about 40-60 minutes until the kernels are plump and some have begun to split.  The only real way to tell if they are done is to try them.

Next you will whisk your honey and yogurt together.  Then top your wheat berries will all sorts of goodness.  I love dried apricots and so I used those, dried cranberries, and almonds.  It was delicious.  In the summer this would be so good with fresh berries.

This breakfast is very filling – I ate this for breakfast the other day and wasn’t hungry at all until lunch.  Plus I have so much wheat in my food storage, it is a great way to use up some of it without grinding it for bread.   This is a breakfast that you can eat often, but not get sick of because you can change the toppings.  Try different nuts and fruit.  Try it without yogurt, and with milk.   You can also cook the wheat berries ahead of time, store them in your fridge and just reheat when you are ready to eat them.

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4.4 from 12 votes

Warm Wheat Berry Breakfast

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 423kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup wheat berries
  • 3 cup water
  • 1 cup yogurt, plain, low-fat
  • 2 tablespoon honey

Instructions

  • Bring water and wheat berries to a boil.
  • Once boiling, turn heat to low and simmer covered for 40-60 minutes until wheat is plump and some begin to crack.  Drain.
  • Whisk yogurt and honey together.
  • Top wheat berries with yogurt, seasonal fruit and nuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 97mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 30g
Keyword : vegetarian, wheat berries

www.superhealthykids.com

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

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5 Comments

This looks like a delicious and nutritious breakfast for any occasion! Unfortunately, I’ve recently developed mild lactose intolerance and probably can’t eat yogurt anymore. Do you have any non-dairy suggestions for an alternative? I’d love to try this.

Ruth – This is definitely good without the yogurt. I have made it just plain with a little honey and you could add a splash of soy or almond milk. There are soy yogurts out there since lactose is a problem. Also I have seen recipes to make your own yogurt using coconut milk. Good luck!

My daughter & I chose to cut out dairy to feel better…we love SILK vanilla almond milk.Tastes great on wheatberries, oatmeal, cereal. Try it!