I enjoy sharing healthier fair at potluck events because they are usually not the best place to find a healthy meal. I can almost always guarantee that even the salad greens will be slathered in mayo and the closest thing to fruit will be found in the strawberry pretzel dessert. However, I try my best to be polite and scrounge what I can in the name of fruits and vegetables, especially since Brandon is usually giving me the evil eye.
On occasions where I have the opportunity to bring something healthy, I try to do just that. Granted, sometimes no one touches what I bring; I still feel better knowing I tried to contribute.
Just last week I raved about a Spanish Wheat Berry salad, shared the recipe, and explained the nutritional benefits of these little kernels called wheat berries. Today, I’m sharing ANOTHER wheat berry recipe that I found on Angela’s website. It was OH SO GOOD and I made it today for our St. Patrick’s Day potluck (there is even a little green in there!). Healthy, wholesome, and slightly sweet, this dish packs a unique combination of flavors. Yum.
Now, before you turn up your nose, I think the one rule we should all follow when it comes to healthy eating is keeping an open mind. The food industry has over salted and over sweetened most of the foods consumed today and we are so accustomed to eating the same 10 dishes over and over that recipes with ingredients slightly out of the ordinary have no appeal. However, I encourage you to be accepting of new foods and broaden your horizons. There’s a whole world of foods out there just waiting for you to experiment!!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
Carrot, Raisin, and Wheat Berry Salad with Cumin and Cilantro courtesy of Angela at Oh She Glows.
Makes 6 (1/2 c cup) servings
- 1 c. uncooked wheat berries
- 4 medium sized carrots, chopped in to 1/4″ pieces
- 1.5 T Olive oil
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/3 c. raisins
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 5-6 T freshly chopped cilantro (I used parsley because that is what I had)
Directions:
In a large pot, add wheat berries and fill with water ~2 ” above the berries. Cover and bring water to a boil, simmer ~40 minutes.
Once wheat berries are almost done, in a separate bowl, stir together carrot through raisins. Cook ~ 5 minutes in a saucepan, transfer back to mixing bowl and add the wheat berries. Mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Finish by adding the cilantro! Serve warm or chilled (I preferred chilled).
Nutritional Profile (per 1/2 cup): 126 calories, 4 g fat (0.5 g sat), 20.7 g carbohydrates, 3.1 g protein, 2. 4g fiber
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Interesting flavors the raisins and cilantro. Photo made me hungry.
Wow its look yummy and delicious too.
I need to invite you over to my next pot luck! It seems like pot lucks are places where people bring the most unhealthy item in their culinary repertoire. This looks so much better! Thank you for sharing this delicious salad. I hope you have a beautiful Friday. The weekend is nearly here!
I always try and bring healthy dishes to potlucks and office parties. It’s the big joke around the office that Lauren is going to bring something “weird” and healthy.
I don’t mind at least I know there will be something nutritious there! I think your salad looks fabulous ma’am!
Looks amazing, Erin! I want to come to the potluck!!! Saw on facebook that it was a hit, so glad! I would think so because it looks amazing!
I love how you brought up that the Food Industry has drowned our foods with salt and sugar. I know that since I have gone to a whole foods diet my way of eating has changed. My taste buds are alive again!
xoxox
Kathleen
haha…i find it hard to eat at potlucks (big surprise.) the last one i went to had ALL white food. NO thanks.
p.s. your salad looks delish.
this sounds DELICIOUS!! those nutrition stats are awesomesauce!
Yet another great way to make use of my wheat berries! You’re so right about the food industry over-sweetening and salting foods! It throws off our taste buds and it takes some time to get back to craving whole, natural foods!
I’ve had wheat berry once when I was at whole foods – it was chilled and I think I might like it better warm!
mmm so colorful and healthy!
ok, this looks awesome. I really have to try wheatberries one of these days!
Happy St. Patt’s to you! I haven’t used wheat berry yet but I’ve always wanted to try it, now you’ve given me a great excuse to! Any recipe you post is sure to be awesome and nutritious
I saw this recipe on Angela’s blog as well! It looks delicious. I’m like you, I always try to bring something healthy (and meat-free) whenever we go to a potluck.
I love bringing healthy food to gatherings- especially when everything else has meat in it!
yum how festive!!!!!! love that little kick of cilantro!!!
Hooray – a salad that doesn’t have onions in it! Next time I hit up whole foods I’ll grab some wheat berries – the only store that sells them by me
And I love the addition of vinegar 
mmm I love wheatberries! So chewy and delish
Yum! I should make this while all my meat-eater friends are eating the corn beef & cabbage St. Patty’s meal.
I just tried wheatberry yesterday. I’m not 100% sold, but would love to try this recipe..I feel like the wheatberry salad I had yesterday had mayo in it…ewww!
This looks delicious! I know what you mean about potlucks – they can be a ‘dangerous’ place to try to find something healthy!
I saw this on Ange’s blog yesterday and I’m so excited to make it!! Yours looks great Erin!