Wheat Berry "Salad"

This post is going to be a little redundant because this improvised recipe is very similar to the farro with vegetables post. It's also pretty self explanatory that you have to chop the vegetables and such. But I'm learning more about grains, which is good for someone like me who has a more than unhealthy obsession with/reliance upon pasta.

Wikipedia explains wheat berries as being the "entire wheat kernel ... comprising the bran, germ, and endosperm." Mmmm, yummy.

Everywhere I looked told me a different way to cook wheat berries, and as I placed them in a large pot of boiling water, where they would simmer for over an hour, I vaguely remembered the woman from the Union Square farmer's market saying something about soaking them for 20 minutes before bringing the water to a boil. Anyone have better tips for cooking wheat berries? (By the way - a good sized container of wheat berries was only $2 in Union Square).

The wheat berries were smaller and nuttier than the farro even though they look similar uncooked. At first I decided I liked the farro better because the cooked grains are bigger and seemed more filling, but towards the end of 3 days of wheat berry eating, I grew to like them a lot.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups (more or less depending on how much you want!) wheat berries
1 large cucumber, cut into small chunks
1 package sliced mushrooms
5 green onions, white and light green parts only
1/4 cup sliced, oil packed sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 dill, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 handfuls spinach
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, plus 1 teaspoon
Crumbled feta cheese (optional, but seriously, do it)

1. Soak wheat berries in water for 20 minutes. Bring water to a boil and then cover pot and simmer for up to an hour or until wheat berries are tender.

2. Saute sliced mushrooms with chopped green onions in olive oil. Meanwhile, chop cucumber, dill, and sun-dried tomatoes and mince the garlic.

3. When the wheat berries are done, drain and mix with vegetables, olive oil, balsamic, garlic, and feta!