Best Wheat Berry Soup Recipes

POTATO AND ROASTED GARLIC SOUP WITH WHEAT BERRY, WATERCRESS, AND ENDIVE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• On a flat surface smash garlic heads, root ends up, with palm of hand to break up cloves, leaving peels intact. Put garlic on a sheet of foil and drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle garlic with salt and pepper to taste and wrap tightly in foil. Bake garlic in middle of oven 40 minutes, or until very tender. Unwrap garlic carefully and let stand until cool enough to handle. In a bowl squeeze roasted garlic out of cloves by squeezing one end, discarding skin.
• In a kettle cook onions in remaining tablespoon oil over moderate heat until softened. Peel and cut potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces and add to kettle with water. Bring water to a simmer and cook potatoes, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer half of potatoes with cooking liquid to a bowl and in a blender, in batches, purée with garlic until smooth. Transfer mixture as puréed to kettle, stirring, and season soup with salt and pepper. Soup may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered.
• In a large bowl whisk together vinegar, scallion purée, and salt and pepper to taste.
• In a saucepan bring water with wheat berries and salt to a gentle boil. Cook wheat berries, uncovered, adding more water if necessary, 1 1/4 hours, or until just tender. Drain wheat berries in a sieve and add to vinegar mixture, tossing to combine well. Let mixture cool. Wheat berry mixture may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring wheat berry mixture to room temperature before proceeding.
• In a kettle heat soup over moderate heat, stirring, until hot. In a large bowl toss watercress and endives with wheat berry mixture and season with salt and pepper. Pour soup into 8 serving bowls and garnish each with 1/2 tablespoon scallion purée. Serve soup and salad with bread.
• In a saucepan heat 1/4 cup oil over moderate heat and cook scallions just until tender and bright green in color (do not let brown). In a blender purée scallion mixture with remaining 1/4 cup oil until smooth. Season scallion purée with salt and pepper and let cool. Makes about 3/4 cup.

WHITE BEAN, WHEAT BERRY, AND ESCAROLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a bowl soak beans in water to cover by 2 inches overnight or quick-soak (procedure follows) and drain.
• In a heavy kettle (at least 5 quarts) simmer ham hocks and wheat berries in water and broth, covered, 1 hour. Add drained beans and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and skim froth. Add onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, and rosemary and simmer, covered, until beans are tender, about 1 hour.
• Transfer ham hocks with a slotted spoon to a cutting board. Discard fat and bones and chop meat.
• In a blender or food processor purée 3 cups soup. Stir purée into soup with chopped meat and escarole and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. Stir in garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Soup may be made 4 days ahead (cool uncovered before chilling covered.)
• In a large saucepan combine dried beans, picked over and rinsed, with triple, their volume of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and cook beans, uncovered, over moderate heat 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let beans soak 1 hour.

WHEAT BERRY SOUP

Steps:

• Place the wheat berries in a large bowl. Cover with at least 6 cups cold water. Set aside to soak for at least 4 hours. Drain and place in a large non stick saucepan.
• Add the water or stock to the pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour. Add all the rest of the ingredients.
• Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes or till the berries are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

CUMIN-SCENTED WHEAT BERRY-LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• PREPARE THE WHEAT BERRIES IN ADVANCE (makes ~2 1/4 cups) -
• 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.
• PREPARE THE SOUP (makes about 6, 1 2/3 cup servings) -
• Combine lentils, broth and water in a dutch oven. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover and simmer gently until the lentils are tender, but not mushy, 25 to 30 minutes (brown lentils take a little longer to cook than green).
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds more. Remove from the heat.
• When lentils are tender, stir cooked wheat berries and chard into the pot. Cover and simmer until the chard has wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrot mixture and lemon juice.
• Serve with warm crusty bread.

CUMIN-SCENTED WHEAT BERRY-LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Combine lentils, broth and water in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently until the lentils are tender, but not mushy, 25 to 30 minutes (brown lentils take a little longer than green).
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds more. Remove from the heat.
• When the lentils are tender, stir cooked wheat berries and chard into the pot. Cover and simmer until the chard has wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrot mixture and lemon juice.
• Tips:
• Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
• Tip: French green lentils are firmer than brown lentils and cook more quickly. They can be found in natural-foods stores and some supermarkets.