Wheat-Berry Salad with Grilled Tofu
A hearty and nutritious salad featuring grilled tofu, tender wheat berries, and fresh vegetables tossed in a flavorful tomato vinaigrette. This Mediterranean-inspired dish combines colorful bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and fresh mint for a delightful vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
- •½ pounds tomatoes, chopped
- •¼ cup red-wine vinegar
- •1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- •2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- •2 teaspoons sugar
- •1 teaspoon salt
- •¼ teaspoon black pepper
- •½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- •1 block extra-firm tofu
- •1 cup reserved tomato vinaigrette
- •1 tablespoon soy sauce
- •1 cup wheat berries
- •½ teaspoon salt
- •½ pound cherry tomatoes
- •4 whole yellow bell peppers
- •3 ribs celery
- •3 whole scallions
- •½ cup Kalamata olives
- •1 head Boston lettuce
- •1 cup fresh mint leaves
- •2 pieces wooden skewers
- •water for soaking
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Purée all vinaigrette ingredients in a blender. Reserve 1 cup vinaigrette for marinating tofu.
5 min
- 2.
Combine reserved vinaigrette and soy sauce in a sealable plastic bag. Add tofu, seal bag, and turn to coat. Marinate, chilled, turning bag over occasionally, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before grilling.
30 min
- 3.
Simmer wheat berries in unsalted water in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, partially covered, until tender but still chewy, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain, then return to pan and stir in salt. Cool to room temperature.
90 min
- 4.
Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal.
15 min
- 5.
Pour off marinade from tofu and pat dry, then transfer to a plate.
2 min
- 6.
Thread tomatoes 1/4 inch apart onto skewers.
5 min
- 7.
Oil grill rack and grill bell peppers, covered only if using a gas grill, turning occasionally with tongs, until skins are blackened, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, then cover and let steam 10 minutes.
22 min
- 8.
Grill tomatoes, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, until blistered and softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
4 min
- 9.
Oil grill rack well, then grill tofu, covered only if using a gas grill, until grill marks appear, about 3 minutes. Loosen tofu with a metal spatula, then turn over and grill until heated through and grill marks appear, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a clean plate and cover.
6 min
- 10.
Assemble salad: Stir together tomatoes, celery, scallions, olives, wheat berries, and 1/2 cup vinaigrette. Let stand, uncovered, 15 minutes.
15 min
- 11.
Peel and seed peppers, then cut into 1-inch-wide strips. Stir into wheat-berry mixture.
10 min
- 12.
Halve pieces of tofu diagonally (for a total of 8 triangles).
2 min
- 13.
Toss lettuce and mint on a platter, then top with wheat-berry mixture and tofu. Drizzle with some vinaigrette; serve remainder on the side.
5 min
