Wheat Berries with Portobello Mushrooms and Roasted Red Pepper

This side dish is packed with flavour and perfect alongside baked ham, roast beef and so much more.

A bowl of wheat berry side dish.

I am always trying out new side dish recipes. This dish with wheat berries, portobello mushrooms and roasted red peppers is so good and easily going to be one of my go to sides when I want something that is a little fancier. This is great for holiday meals or dinner parties. People will love it!

A bowl of a side dish in front of a baked ham.

What Makes This Side Dish So Good?

I love wheat berries and usually make a salad with them like this Curry Wheat Berry Salad. But, recently, I had some wheat berries and decided to make a side dish with them and I am so glad I did.

  • The chewy and nutty texture of the wheat berries is amazing
  • So much flavour in every bite! The portobello mushrooms and roasted red peppers are so good in this dish.
  • Great for leftovers!
  • A nice change from a rice or pasta side dish.
Ingredients for side dish gathered and placed on a cutting board.

Ingredients You Need

  • Wheat berries
  • Red onion
  • Portobello mushrooms
  • Roasted red peppers
  • Fresh parsley
  • Beef broth
  • Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Cooked wheat berries in a glass bowl.

What Are Wheat Berries?

A wheat berry is the whole wheat kernel. Wheat berries are hard and need to be cooked to soften prior to adding them to the skillet for this side dish. They are similar to pearl barley, although wheat berries are a little larger, and need a bit more time to cook.

Place the wheat berries in a large pot and fill with water about 2 inches, or more, above the wheat berries. Bring to a boil. As they cook, the wheat berries will absorb plenty of water, so it is important to make sure that you have enough water in the pot.

Expert Tip! Wheat berries can sometimes be tricky to find and not available at every supermarket. I source them at my local health food store as they regularly keep them in stock.

A skillet with diced red onion.

Sauté The Onion

Get a cast iron skillet heat the oil in the pan over medium heat. Dump in the onions and sauté for a few minutes. If you do not have red onions, then any other type of onion should work just fine in this wheat berry side dish.

Expert Tip! Be careful not to have the heat too high while the onions are cooking as they could burn and would taste bitter. They should be sautéing nice and slowly and develop a caramelised coating on the outside of the onion.

Chopped portobello mushrooms

Oh The Portobello Mushrooms!

Take the portobello mushrooms and chop them up into small chunks. Add them to the skillet and stir. Let the mushrooms cook for a few minutes with the onions. They will start to soften and release some moisture.

Expert Tip! I absolutely love portobello mushrooms and look for any excuse to add them to a recipe. If you prefer another type of mushroom, then button or cremini will also work great in this dish.

Roasted red pepper and mushrooms in a skillet.

Roasted Red Pepper

After the mushrooms have been cooking for a few minutes with the onion, it is time to add the peppers. Dump the chopped roasted red pepper into the skillet and stir. Cook for 1 or 2 more minutes.

Expert Tip! Roasted red peppers are typically found in jars and either whole, sliced or diced. If they are whole, then just chop them up into similar sized chunks as the onions and mushrooms.

Minced parsley in a skillet with broth and other vegetables.

Beef Broth, Parsley and Spices

Add the beef broth, fresh parsley, salt and pepper to the skillet. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer at a low rolling boil for 20-30 minutes. The broth should start to reduce which will deepen the flavours even more!

Expert Tip! You could easily switch the beef broth with chicken broth, vegetable broth or even water. But, I do find that the beef broth adds an extra layer of richness to this dish.

A cast iron skillet with wheat berry side dish.

Time To Add The Wheat Berries!

It is time to add the final ingredient – the wheat berries! Add the cooked wheat berries to the skillet and continue to let everything simmer with a very low boil. Let the broth get absorbed into the wheat berries and the dish is ready when there is pretty well no more liquid. This should take another 15 minutes or so.

Can You Make This Dish Ahead?

Yes! This dish can easily be made earlier in the day or even the day before. This reheats very well and tastes just as good the next day. It is great for leftovers as well

Wheat berries in a white bowl in front of baked ham.

What To Serve With This Wheat Berry Side Dish

If you are looking for something to serve with this dish, then check out these ideas. There are some amazing meat recipes as well as a few delicious vegetable dishes.

Wheat Berries with Portobello Mushrooms and Roasted Red Pepper

Close up picture of wheat berry side dish.
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A delicious side dish made with wheat berries, sautéed portobello mushrooms, red onions, roasted red pepper and simmered in beef broth.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 3 cups wheat berries , cooked
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 1 medium red onion , diced
  • 6 portobello mushrooms , diced
  • 1 cup roasted red pepper , minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley , minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for a few minutes.
  • Dump the chopped portobello mushroom to the skillet. Cook for a few more minutes, stirring often.
  • Add in the roasted red pepper and cook for a couple minutes more.
  • Pour in the beef broth and add the fresh parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Continue to let it cook at a low rolling boil for 20-30 minutes. The broth should reduce by about half.
  • Stir in the cooked wheat berries and continue to let simmer for another 15-20 minutes, or until the broth has been completely absorbed into the wheat berries.
  • Serve warm.

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 10gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0.5gSodium: 788mgFiber: 9gSugar: 2g

Nutrition Disclaimer

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A bowl of wheat berry side dish.

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