Great Whole Grains Recipes

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges

Light, fluffy, and very nutritious, quinoa—one of the "ancient grains" that have sustained the people of the Andes for centuries—thrives in Colorado, too. It's super easy to cook (easier than rice) and makes wonderful salad.

Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Black Rice Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds

Need a little excitement in your life (or at least your cooking)? Try this jet-black rice, filled with sweet hunks of roasted squash, toasted pecans, and juicy, bright-red pomegranate seeds. It's drama in a bowl, and it's utterly delicious.

Recipe: Black Rice Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Warm Buckwheat Salad with Roasted Shallots, Apples, and Frisee

Buckwheat, a hugely popular grain in Eastern Europe, makes a fantastic wintertime salad. Its sweet earthiness links right into the roasted shallots, and the sweet-tangy apples and slightly bitter radicchio give layers of flavor and texture to the dish.

Recipe: Warm Buckwheat Salad with Roasted Shallots, Apples, and Frisee

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Farro, Green Olive, and Feta Salad

This simple but knockout salad came to us from Feel Good Foods Catering in Santa Cruz, CA. Farro, an ancient strain of wheat, has a very pleasing tender-chewy texture and deep, nutty flavor; you can find it at well-stocked grocery stores, or order online from bluebirdgrainfarms.com

Recipe: Farro, Green Olive, and Feta Salad

Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Amy Machnak

Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

Technically a seed (so no gluten), quinoa is touted as a superfood for its high fiber and protein. The runny yolk of a poached egg creates a little sauce on top.

Recipe: Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

Photo by Yunhee Kim; written by Margo True

Farro Dolmas Salad

Have you ever made grape leaves stuffed with rice, nuts, and seasonings, Middle Eastern style? They're wonderful, but they are time-consuming to make. This recipe is a terrific fast take on those flavors—and has the health benefits of whole-grain farro, too.

Recipe: Farro Dolmas Salad

Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Margo True

Whole-Grain Penne with Walnuts Caramelized Onions and Ricotta Salata

No longer the grainy, crumbly stuff of years past, whole-grain pastas have a toothsome texture and pleasantly nutty flavor, and they're sold in most supermarkets. Penne is one of our favorites; its little ridges have a way of trapping the light lemon and olive oil dressing and crumbles of cheese.

Recipe: Whole-Grain Penne with Walnuts Caramelized Onions and Ricotta Salata

Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Margo True

Whole Grain Pasta Soup with Greens and Parmesan

A simple, excellent, healthy soup for a weeknight. You'll feel like your mama is cooking for you.

Recipe: Whole Grain Pasta Soup with Greens and Parmesan

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Nutted Brown Rice Pilaf

Brown rice is rice that hasn't been messed with. Any type of white rice―long-grain, short-grain, basmati―begins as brown rice, which means its outer layer of bran has not yet been removed. This pilaf, made with long-grain brown rice, three kinds of nuts, and Indian spices, is a healthy recipe you'll return to often.

Recipe: Nutted Brown Rice Pilaf

Photo by Thomas J. Story; written by Margo True

Hearty Whole-Grain Pancakes

No reason you have to eat mediocre food while you're camping. Take these pancakes, for instance: they have whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, and wheat bran, they're tender and fragrant, and you can pack the dry mix and just add eggs and oil at the site. Of course, they're great at home, too.

Recipe: Hearty Whole-Grain Pancakes

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True

Coconut Brown Rice Pudding

If you've never liked rice pudding, give this recipe a try. And if you're already an R.P. fan, it'll make you weak in the knees. Coconut milk and brown sweet rice combine to make a rich, silky dessert that isn't cloying; tangy-sweet dried apricots on top give it a brightness and intensity.

Recipe: Coconut Brown Rice Pudding

11 ways with whole grains

Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges

Black Rice Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds

Warm Buckwheat Salad with Roasted Shallots, Apples, and Frisee

Farro, Green Olive, and Feta Salad

Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

Farro Dolmas Salad

Whole-Grain Penne with Walnuts Caramelized Onions and Ricotta Salata

Whole Grain Pasta Soup with Greens and Parmesan

Nutted Brown Rice Pilaf

Hearty Whole-Grain Pancakes

Coconut Brown Rice Pudding