Creamy Wheat Berry Hot Cereal

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This warming whole-grain hot cereal recipe pairs cooked wheat berries with rolled oats, fruit and nuts for a filling fiber-rich breakfast. Using a microwave makes preparation speedy, especially if you've thawed frozen cooked wheat berries overnight in the refrigerator.

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Cook Time:
15 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 35 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

Cooked Wheat Berries (makes 4 1/2 cups)

  • 2 cups hard red winter-wheat berries (see Tip)

  • 7 cups cold water

  • 1 teaspoon salt

Creamy Wheat Berry Hot Cereal

  • 1 ¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • ½ cup raisins

  • 2 cups nonfat milk or reduced-fat soymilk

  • teaspoon salt

  • 1 ¼ cups Cooked Wheat Berries

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted (see Tip)

Directions

  1. To prepare the wheat berries: Sort through wheat berries carefully, discarding any stones. Rinse well under cool running water. Place in a large heavy saucepan. Add water and salt Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse. (Makes about 4 1/2 cups.)

  2. To prepare the hot cereal: Place oats, raisins, milk (or soymilk) and salt in a large, microwave-safe bowl. (No microwave? See Stovetop Variation.) Stir to combine. Microwave on High, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in 1 1/4 cups cooked wheat berries and microwave again until hot, 1 to 2 minutes more. Let stand for 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve. (Refrigerate or freeze leftover wheat berries.)

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the cooked wheat berries (Step 1) for up to 2 days or freeze airtight for up to 1 month.

Look for wheat berries in natural-foods markets in bulk or other near whole grains. Contrary to popular belief, they do not require an overnight soak before cooking. Simply boiling them for 1 hour soften the kernels and produces their characteristically chewy texture.

Toast slivered almonds in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2007

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

453 Calories
8g Fat
80g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 3/4 cup
Calories 453
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 80g 29%
Dietary Fiber 10g 34%
Total Sugars 27g
Added Sugars 3g 6%
Protein 19g 38%
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Vitamin A 27IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Folate 13mcg 3%
Sodium 390mg 17%
Calcium 283mg 22%
Iron 4mg 21%
Magnesium 52mg 12%
Potassium 511mg 11%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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