Orange and Wheat Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

This orange and wheat salad hits the spot in so many ways. A filling, delicious, seasonal and vegan meal in a salad.

orange and wheat salad

Also Read: Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad, How to Cook & Freeze Whole Grains, Five Sources of Plant Based Protein.

It’s tasty – fresh greens, juicy citrus with a fantastic dressing, the crunch of the seeds, the chewiness of the wheat and the sweetness of the cranberries – oh man!

It’s filling – seriously when you add whole grains and seeds to a salad you get the perfect combo of protein, carbs and fat to fill you up.

It’s seasonal – you get the best flavor and colour when you use seasonal produce.

It’s beautiful – just look at it!

It’s vegan – just FYI!

It’s healthy brain food – get your daily dose of dark leafy greens, fruit, whole grains, nuts & seeds and olive oil.

orange and wheat salad

If you’re looking for more ways to incorporate plant-protein based meals into your weekly meal plan, consider this salad. It’s perfect for a filling lunch or a side salad to accompany falafel, grilled cheese, soup, cauliflower buffalo wings, hummus and pita, samosas or whatever.

Ingredients in Orange Wheat Salad

The Greens & Cabbage

Go for dark leafy greens to get the biggest bang for your health conscious buck! I often buy the pre-washed containers that have some sort of mix of kale, spinach, chard, bok choy, arugula, beet greens, tatsoi, mustard greens, broccoli rab (rapini), collard greens, etc. These are the greens that offer up the most protein, calcium, iron, folate, Vitamin K, etc. that we all need.

I also love these dark leafy greens because most of them can also be used in hot dishes. They can withstand the heat so they’re easy to add to soups, stews, curries, pizza, omelets, etc. In our house, that means less food waste, because when the greens start looking less tasty, I can still cook with them and don’t need to toss them because they’re not perfect.

There’s not a ton of purple cabbage in this salad, just enough for an extra splash of colour, crunch and purple antioxidants.

The Wheat

I grew up on a grain farm, we always had wheat, but we NEVER ate it. Weird right?! We only ate store bought wheat products – flour, pasta, baked goods. It never even occurred to me that we could cook wheat and eat it just like rice. Mind blown!

wheat berries

Now I cook wheat or wheat berries as their officially called in the culinary world quite often. I freeze extras so it’s convenient for quick lunches.

Here’s more on How to Cook and Freeze Wheat berries. Just like in the rice family, there are different varieties of wheat like kamut, farro, freekeh, spelt, etc. There are so many varieties, but all are high in fibre, low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals and even protein.

The Oranges

orange varieties

I love North American orange season and look for ways to incorporate all the different types into my January to March meal planning. In this salad, I chose blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges and classic navel oranges. They give a bright, refreshing flavor to the salad. And that extra bit of Vitamin C mixed in with the dark leafy greens will help our bodies absorb the iron from these plants better. Here’s more on Different Orange Varieties.

The Dressing

Homemade dressings are the best! The oranges in this recipe are the perfect complement to the cranberry orange infused vinegar I have from Christmas time. So good!

Orange and Wheat Salad Recipe

orange and wheat salad
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Orange and Wheat Salad

A refreshing, delicious salad perfect for a filling lunch or a side salad. A tasty maple vinaigrette over wheat berries, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, three types of oranges and dried cranberries.
Prep : 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup raw wheat berries
  • 2-3 small oranges, different varieties, peeled and sectioned
  • 6 cups dark leafy green mix
  • 1 cup sliced red cabbage
  • ½ cup toasted pepitas or sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 Tbsp chopped green onions

Maple Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup olive or canola oil
  • 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar see note
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Rinse and drain wheat berries. Place in medium saucepan and cover with 1 to 2 inches of water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 50-60 minutes until tender. Drain any remaining water and cool.
  • Arrange all prepared ingredients on either a large platter layering each ingredient in an attractive display or simply toss together in a large bowl.
  • If displaying on a platter, serve vinaigrette on the side. If tossing in a bowl, mix in vinaigrette.

Vinaigrette

  • Combine all ingredients in a well sealed jar and shake vigorously. Taste and adjust as desired.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days if you used dark leafy greens like kale, chard, beet greens, etc. If you have baby spinach, romaine, leaf lettuce or iceberg lettuce – it's best to eat up!

Notes

Cooked wheat berries and other large grains freeze very well. I like to make a large batch and freeze in measured portions so I can quickly whip up a salad like this.
Replace the wheat with any other large whole grains like farro, rye berries, bulgur (quick cooking), hulled barley, hulled oats or quinoa.
*I love using my cranberry orange infused vinegar in this recipe.
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 24g | Sodium: 174mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 17g | Iron: 6mg
orange and wheat salad

More Grain Salads

If you’re interested in more whole grain salads, here are some others on this website. You can easily switch the whole grain in any of these recipes. For gluten free options consider hulled oats, quinoa or buckwheat.

Are you ready to try this salad? Leave a comment and of course, if you make it, share a photo on Instagram and tag @getgettys so I can see it and like it!

Step by Step guide to Vinaigrette

With NO ads, tons of tips and classic & unique recipes in one convenient place!

Vinaigrettes use at least twice as much oil as acid and are bound by an emulsifier. So whether you make a small or big batch use 2 parts oil, 1 part acid and 1 part emulsifier. Don’t worry. The guide will walk you through it all…

  • Get the ratio you need for dressing success
  • Ideas for flavour and emulsifiers
  • Salad & Dressing recipes you’ll love

Select, store and serve seasonal food for everyday cooking with Getty. Getty is a food educator and Professional Home Economist, who loves sharing tips and recipes following the seasons from her Canadian kitchen. Sign up to get seasonal tips and recipes delivered to your inbox. Learn more about Getty or check out her books and pdf guides.

2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    OMG! This salad was delicious. I used just one type of orange and omitted the red cabbage as my hubby is not a fan.I subbed in some edamame instead. The dressing was fresh and provided a nice zing. I will be making this again!

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