Author Notes
These wheat berries think they’re the cutest pasta shape around (and we won’t tell them otherwise). I love a big bowl of pesto-y wheat berries just as they are, but why not add a runny-yolked egg on top, or serve alongside grilled vegetables, like eggplant, or meat, like chicken? Keep any leftovers in the fridge and serve cold—maybe at a picnic!—just like pasta salad. —Emma Laperruque
Test Kitchen Notes
Featured in: Why You Should Cook—and Dress—Your Grains Like Pasta —The Editors
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Ingredients
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2 teaspoons
kosher salt, plus more to taste
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1 cup
wheat berries
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1/2 cup
dill, stems mostly removed
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1/2
basil leaves
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1/4 cup
mint leaves
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1/3 cup
grated pecorino, plus more for garnish
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1
garlic clove, smashed and peeled
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3/4 cup
shelled pistachios (about 4 ounces), plus more for garnish
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1/2 cup
extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
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Set a large pot of water (at least 8 cups) over high heat. Add the salt, plus enough to taste so the water is very salty. Bring to a boil, then add the wheat berries. Boil for 50 minutes to 1 hour until tender but chewy. (If needed, add more water during the cooking process, so they’re always in a lot of liquid.)
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Meanwhile, make the pesto. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Add the pistachios to a rimmed sheet tray. Roast for about 8 minutes or until fragrant and toasty. Cool completely. Combine the herbs, pecorino, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down as needed. Add the pistachios and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the oil and pulse to yield a rustic, chunky pesto. You don’t want it completely smooth—you’d lose the pistachios’ pretty color and, if over-processed, they’ll turn into butter, making the pesto greasy. Season with salt to taste.
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When the wheat berries are done, use a spider to transfer them to a big bowl. Add some pesto and toss. Add some salty, starchy water from the pot and toss. Add more pesto, water, and salt as needed, until a sauce forms. You won't use all the pesto, but it keeps in the fridge (and freezer!) well.
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Serve hot with pecorino or pistachios or both on top.
Emma was the food editor at Food52. She created the award-winning column, Big Little Recipes, and turned it into a cookbook in 2021. These days, she's a senior editor at Bon Appétit, leading digital cooking coverage. Say hello on Instagram at @emmalaperruque.
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