hey there!
I’m back as your one-stop summer salad source and this time, I bring you my favorite creation so far: a hearty salad filled with dense chewy grains, smoked mozzarella cubes, grape tomatoes and raw sweet corn.
You’re gonna love it.
First, lets talk grains.
Did you know that quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain? Weird, huh? I like to cook with quinoa a lot because I love it’s chewy texture and the fact that it’s chock full of protein (have you tried this salad yet? if not, you really should).
Wheat berries are fun, too! Now, they actually are grains…not berries! Shocker. The only downside to wheat berries is the fact that you have to soak them in water overnight before you can use them. I always forget that part. They’re superrrrrrrr chewy, which makes them a fun addition to salads.
And yes, my obsession with raw corn is still kickin’. If you didn’t try it last time, don’t miss out this time around. Eating raw corn isn’t as weird as it sounds…in fact, it’s my favorite way to eat it! The kernels are incredibly sweet right now and the sweet crunch pairs so nicely with the chewy grains.
And smoked mozzarella? Awesome. Look for it at Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market or in the specialty cheese section of most large supermarkets. It’s sorta ridiculous and totally “makes” this salad.
Happy August! What were you doing a year ago today?
Wheat Berry Salad with Corn and Smoked Mozzarella
serves 6
Ingredients:
1/2 cup quinoa
1/2 cup wheat berries
2 ears corn, shucked
1/4th of a red onion, minced
2 cups sliced grape tomatoes
1/4 tsp salt
4 oz smoked mozzarella, cubed
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 T balsamic vinegar
Directions:
Soak the wheat berries in cold water overnight. In the morning, drain, replace with fresh water and simmer for 20 minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside.
Simmer the quinoa in 1.5 cups water for 15 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff and add to the cooked wheat berries in a large bowl.
Add the corn kernels, red onion, mozzarella cubes and grape tomatoes to the grain mixture and toss well. Then drizzle in the olive oil, vinegar and salt. Mix well.
**salad will keep refrigerated for up to 5 days
Time:
30 minutes (not including time to soak wheat berries overnight)
Corey @ Learning Patience
August 1, 2011 at 4:38 amhmmm…never tried wheat berries – i will have to keep my eye out! happy monday xoxo
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
August 1, 2011 at 4:46 amI’m allergic to wheat, so I doubt I can have wheat berries 🙁
Quinoa it is!
Blog is the New Black
August 1, 2011 at 4:55 amHOW have I not tried wheatberries before?! You may have just changed that… 😉
Analiese
August 1, 2011 at 5:02 amThis looks incredible! I’m so glad you featured wheatberries. They’re such an under-appreciated ingredient. My local Whole Foods stocks a Greek-inspired wheatberry salad in the salad bar: wheatberries with diced tomato, red onion, herbs, and feta, dressed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. I’ve eaten it for lunch probably 8 out of the last 10 days.
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
August 1, 2011 at 5:06 amWow! great idea mixing quinoa and wheat berries together. I need to try me some wheat berries…and this salad…STAT 🙂
Molly @ RDexposed
August 1, 2011 at 5:19 amI haven’t ventured out in the wheatberry world yet! This may push me to plan a trip!
Steph (@ mediterraneanmiss)
August 1, 2011 at 5:23 amThis looks so good it’s unfair, haha. Wheatberries are such fun, I love how chewy/tender they are.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
August 1, 2011 at 5:33 ami absolutely adore wheatberry salads…the chew is SO wonderful and it soaks up all of the flavor! i’ve never actually soaked mine overnight though and it still turns out fabulous 🙂
Liz @ IHeartVegetables
August 1, 2011 at 5:33 amI have yet to try Wheat Berries, but I think I’d like them! This sounds like a delicious summer recipe!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
August 1, 2011 at 5:37 amLooks super delicious, I bet the different kinds of grains would add some great texture differences! YUM!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
August 1, 2011 at 5:40 amI never soak the wheatberries either 😉 just cook them a little longer. Who can remember that the night before?!
I love smoked mozzarella, it reminds me of being a kid growing up at the holidays we’d always have it, along with all the other Italian treats and specialities.
Sarah@The Flying ONION
August 1, 2011 at 5:45 amI went through a phase where I was constantly cooking with wheat berries. There were always some cooked ones sitting in my freezer and uncooked ones abounding in my pantry.
That was a couple YEARS ago. I don’t think I’ve cooked with it since. Sad, but true. Thanks for this recipe! I’m adding it to my grocery list. 😀
Mai
August 1, 2011 at 5:47 amOooh, I bought wheatberries because I wanted to try them, but hadn’t found a good recipe yet, so they’ve just been sitting in the pantry. I might have to try this recipe!
mom
August 1, 2011 at 5:51 amI love the fact that you can click on “a year ago” and see exactly where you were at last year! You have grown in every way 🙂 Love ~
Cait's Plate
August 1, 2011 at 5:57 amYou had me at raw corn and wheat berries. This looks incredible.
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
August 1, 2011 at 5:58 amI love quinoa. Can’t get enough. We actually have to buy it in bulk from Costco because my fiancee and I eat it so often. I will definitely be trying this salad!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
August 1, 2011 at 5:59 amI didn’t know you could eat corn raw. This salad looks great!
Em
August 1, 2011 at 6:01 amDelicious! I love that idea. We have TONS of sweet corn in Minnesota this time of year. 🙂
I made up a yummy little side dish last night: fresh green beans (boiled for 3 minutes), fresh carrots (boiled for a few minutes, too), and pesto. But I made the pesto with pistachios instead of pine nuts! IT IS SO GOOD! I just mixed up those 3 ingredients.
Keri
August 1, 2011 at 6:04 amI brought some wheat berries home from a trip to San Francisco this spring…..and have sadly left them sitting there, only making one thing with them. This looks fantastic, and the fact that I have corn from the farmers market in the fridge and cherry tomatoes ripening outside right now makes me think this recipe is in the cards this week 🙂
I never soak wheat berries either, just cook them a bit longer – I don’t know if there is a difference in texture, but since they’re supposed to be chewy I thought they turned out fine!
Jenn from Much to My Delight
August 1, 2011 at 6:07 amI am sold with a capital S on this one. I LOVE smoked mozzarella and paired with tomatoes and fresh corn…what? This sounds delectable!
katie @KatieDid
August 1, 2011 at 6:17 amI still need to jump on this raw corn bandwagon you rave about. Oh and this smoked mozzarella thing too… never tried it but it just sounds so delicious. This salad screams summer in every sense of the word, yum!
Sally Anne @ PaleoRunnerGirl
August 1, 2011 at 6:19 amOh. My. Goodness! I had NO idea that Quinoa was a seed?!?!? Hmmm, I wonder if it is a closet paleo-friendly food. I must do some investigating!
I think tomatoes are the most gorgeous fruit/veggie in the summer! That bright red color is simply captivating!
Jenna, where did you get that bowl? I love its simplicity?!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
August 1, 2011 at 6:23 amThis salad DOES look ridiculous…ridiculously good!!!
It’s a holiday Monday for us here in Canada so last there this time…hmm probably sleeping in?!
Baking N Books
August 1, 2011 at 6:44 amDitto. Slept in all weekend. Oh well.
As for the recipe – thanks for adding in the cooking/prep. time. Do you estimate based on how long it actually takes you? Or the average person? And I assume the wheat could be subbed out for another grain?
Hilliary@HappilyEverHealthy
August 1, 2011 at 6:25 amThis salad looks amazing! And a year ago from today I was gearing up to start a new job!
Lauri (Redheadrecipes.com)
August 1, 2011 at 6:31 amLOVE raw corn! I can’t believe how sweet it is. Way better raw than cooked!!
We are going to TJ’s later this week, thanks for the smoked mozzarella recommendation.
Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife
August 1, 2011 at 6:59 amThat is such a beautiful salad! I have never tried wheat berries, but it’s definitely on my list. Thanks for another great recipe!
Emilie
August 1, 2011 at 7:11 amThis looks so healthy and delicious! I love adding raw onion to recipes to give it a little zing. It’s so great to use in healthy dishes, as is garlic!
Karen
August 1, 2011 at 7:18 amJenna – FYI, it’s not necessary to soak wheatberries…I cook them regularly and never soak mine. The texture is plenty soft/chewy without the soak. Just rinse well, bring to a boil and then simmer til water absorbed, just like any other grain.
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
August 1, 2011 at 7:26 amLooks great!! A year ago today, I was getting ready to start my new job in Ohio. And now in one week, I’ll be returning to that job (I get summers off … the perks of working for a school system!). 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
August 1, 2011 at 7:39 amThis looks beautiful Jenna! I love the dense, chewy, nuttiness of wheatberries and I bet they’re great paired with the lighter quinoa. Bookmarked!
Maria
August 1, 2011 at 7:49 amGreat summer salad!
Katrina
August 1, 2011 at 7:51 amThis salad is a beauty. Nice recipe!
Julie
August 1, 2011 at 8:07 amThis looks delicious. I love wheat berry and I make a salad that is corn, tomato and mozzarella, so why not put them together?! Sounds delectable.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather
August 1, 2011 at 8:12 amI LOVE how chewy wheat berries are! This looks like a winner winner salad dinner 😉
Marge
August 1, 2011 at 8:15 amThis salad seems brilliant! Do you think the balsamic vinegar is essential? (I dislike it with my tomatoes.)
Girl in the pink
August 1, 2011 at 8:27 amYummy!
I was searching for an apartment on napa one year ago!
Tammy @ Palm Trees and Manatees
August 1, 2011 at 8:30 amIt is stifling hot here in Orlando, and I’m craving salads big time. This one looks great. My husband and I made a lentil salad last night (that I’ll be posting on my blog tomorrow) that totally hit the spot. Thanks for all the yummy ideas, as always!
Erica
August 1, 2011 at 8:40 amHey I just wanted to let you know about a little technology error I’ve been getting. When I try to view your site from my work computer (which, honestly, is where I usually am when I’m looking for recipes and making my grocery list), your site is displayed without any design elements. It just looks like a basic HTML site. I’m stuck with IE 8 and they won’t let me upgrade. It does work fine at home (Safari browser) though. I used to go to your site everyday, but because I can’t see it correctly at work, it’s been forever since I’ve been here.
Lola
August 1, 2011 at 8:47 amYum!!! I just tried tabouleh salad for the first time the other day and I loved it; this looks similar so I’m definitely giving it a shot!
Have a nice week (and month!),
xoxo
Lola
Yolie @ Practising Wellness
August 1, 2011 at 9:23 amMmm…that looks so good! Raw corn is incredible…definitely my favourite way to eat it too…crunchy, crisp and creamy 🙂 xyx
Jess
August 1, 2011 at 9:52 amRaw corn is so good during the summer! I am a fan of wheatberries too so I’ll have to try this one as soon as possible.
Laura @ Cookies vs. Carrots
August 1, 2011 at 9:57 amThis looks great! I haven’t tried wheatberries yet, but I’ve been keeping my eye out for a good recipe for them!
DefineDiana
August 1, 2011 at 10:08 amI totally just made some wheat berries last night for my lunch this week. However, I made it more like your quinoa black bean citrus salad, but now I want this one!
I will definitely have to save this one for a future wheat berry endeavor. Thanks for the recipe!
Jackie @ That Deep Breath
August 1, 2011 at 10:08 amI’ve never tried wheat berries! I always pass them in the store and think about buying them, but never know what to use them in. Next time I’ll pick some up! This would be the perfect salad for a picnic if this NorCal weather wasn’t so terrible lately
Paige @ Running Around Normal
August 1, 2011 at 11:07 amHey, I’ve started putting my grains in ball jars, too!
I’ve never eaten wheat berries before, but I’ve always wanted to try em!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
August 1, 2011 at 11:24 amIt looks great, Jenna! I love!! tomatoes and those tomatoes are just calling my name!
The first pic is stunning…so vibrant and crisp and clear!
Joyce @ Jranola Joyce
August 1, 2011 at 11:41 amOkay. totally making this tonight…oh my gosh.
I think I should go to the store now! haha amazing! thanks for this! 🙂
Kelsey @ aslolife
August 1, 2011 at 12:43 pmI’ve never tried wheatberries before but this looks amazing!
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
August 1, 2011 at 2:45 pmThere is so much goodness here! Yum smoked mozzarella! Yes please!
Emily @ Comfortable Home Life
August 1, 2011 at 2:59 pmYou can never go wrong with any type of smoked cheese. I especially love smoked gouda! This salad sounds delightfully refreshing. I’ve never had wheatberries –I may have to add them to next week’s grocery list!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
August 1, 2011 at 3:18 pmI’ve never tried wheatberries because their 1 hour cooking time totally turns me off – I didn’t know you have to soak them overnight too! What a pain in the butt. 😛 But this salad looks amazing, so I think I’ll have to try it!
Ally @ A Girl In Her Kitchen
August 1, 2011 at 4:36 pmMmmm smoked mozzarella…
Rocky Slaughter
August 1, 2011 at 7:09 pmThat picture rules.
Jennifer
August 2, 2011 at 7:01 amThis looks amazing! I love love love wheatberries. I agree with some of the other posters, I’ve never soaked mine, and I’ve not had a problem with them at all. Thanks for the recipe.
beck
August 2, 2011 at 6:00 pmYUM! what an awesome and healthy flavor combo! this looks wonderful.
ed
August 3, 2011 at 8:59 amGreat pictures. The raw sweat corn is a good idea, however the problem is knowing if the corn is sweet or not. Have not figured out how to do it just by looking.
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August 11, 2011 at 4:36 am[…] another one of those grains we always hear about. It’s super good for you and has an almost “wheat berry-ish” feel to […]
Lindsey
August 16, 2011 at 7:55 amI made this salad for a BBQ we hosted over the weekend. It was a totally hit. Love it as left over too. Thanks!
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Kristin @ thefreshfind
March 6, 2012 at 10:22 pmI have been wanting to try to make wheatberries! Where do you buy yours at? This looks delicious, I will have to try the raw corn 🙂
Adrea
August 21, 2012 at 12:56 pmThis was the most delicious recipe I’ve made in awhile and I made it for a party – everyone loved it! I made this with spelt berries instead of wheat berries because I couldn’t find wheat berries in my rural-ish area. I also made it with steamed frozen corn and used Trader Joe’s garlic olive oil. I doubled the recipe but only added 3 tablespoons of the balsamic vinegar.
Camille
August 27, 2012 at 1:16 pmI bet a pressure cooker would allow you to cook the berries and make the salad all in one day. Yeah to “vintage” kitchen appliances.
Wheat Berry Salad with Corn and Smoked Mozzarella
April 5, 2013 at 5:06 pm[…] For the recipe visit: eatliverun.com […]
April Knight
January 9, 2020 at 8:10 amLooks delicious!))
Try this recipe – Grilled Turkey salad https://mygreencookbook.com/grilled-turkey-salad/
Need:
One skinless turkey breast (1lb)
8 to 10 lettuce leaves
6 to 8 Romaine Lettuce leaves
8 to 10 arugula leaves
Ten cherry tomatoes
7 oz mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon
One pinch of salt
Pepper
Tasty!))