Healthy Whole Grain Recipes

Add nutrient-rich, old-world whole grains — like quinoa, farro and bulgur — to your diet to benefit from proteins and vitamins absent in white rice and flours.

Related To:

Golden Sunshine Quinoa Salad

Plump golden raisins and fresh orange juice give this salad its sunny disposition, while a pinch of cumin and chopped scallions balance out the sweet side.

Get the Recipe: Golden Sunshine Quinoa Salad

Mediterranean Farro Salad

Giada’s simple farro salad gains color and texture from green beans and bright red peppers. Add Parmesan for flavor and protein and you’ve got yourself a fiber-rich meal made entirely from fresh, natural ingredients.

Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Farro Salad

Moroccan Couscous

Exotic spices meld with a hearty helping of produce in this couscous recipe, which includes dried apricots, figs and golden butternut squash. Meaty chickpeas and roasted pistachios make this dish a colorfully complex bowl of goodness.

Get the Recipe: Moroccan Couscous

Caprese Di Farro

Debi and Gabriele deliver an alternative to the simple classic tomato, mozzarella and basil salad from Capri. By adding farro and kalamata olives, they give the dish substance and salty flavor.

Get the Recipe: Caprese Di Farro

Wheat Berry Salad

Tender cooked wheat berries form the base for a salad filled with nuts, herbs and fried fruits. Fresh lemony vinaigrette balances out all the sweetness, making this salad perfect for pairing with meaty mains or as a meal unto itself.

Get the Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad

Spelt Salad

David Rocco prepares farro like he would a classic risotto, giving the nutrient-rich grain some of the creaminess of that more indulgent dish. Fresh, savory ingredients like sautéed eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and herbs add varied flavors and a medley of colors.

Get the Recipe: Insalata di Farro: Spelt Salad

Warm Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds

For doubly nutty flavor in this recipe, toast quinoa until golden and add toasted almond slivers just before serving. The salad, tossed in sesame oil and fresh ginger, is most fragrant when eaten straight from the stovetop.

Get the Recipe: Warm Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds

Shrimp And Farro Salad

For a cool, crisp salad, pair farro with a citrus mint dressing with chilled shrimp. The cannellini beans and watercress add texture to this perfect anytime meal.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp And Farro Salad

Pomegranate Quinoa Pilaf

Juicy pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds and scallions liven up Kelsey’s simple quinoa recipe, making it appropriate for entertaining or an everyday meal.

Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Quinoa Pilaf

Cucumber-Bell Pepper Quinoa

Who needs meat when you’re having quinoa? Add some in-season vegetables like cucumber and bell peppers for a meal packed with complete proteins, good carbohydrates and plenty of vitamins.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber-Bell Pepper Quinoa

Kale Salad

Lately, kale has been garnering a lot of attention. After preparing this recipe you’ll see why; when baked, the dark, leafy green becomes crisp and chip-like, taking on the flavors of tamari, soy and sesame oil.

Get the Recipe: Kale Salad

Squash Stuffed With Bulgur in Tomato Broth

This Middle Eastern-style dish calls for summer squash to be stuffed with a heavily spiced lamb and bulgur wheat mixture. A sweet and spicy tomato-broth base rounds out the flavors and adds vibrant summer color.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Summer Squash (Cousa) with Bulgur in Tomato Broth

Whole Wheat Orzo Salad

A fresh pesto made from broccoli, pine nuts, crème fraiche and lemon juice dresses up this orzo salad. Complement the pesto with whole broccoli pieces and pine nuts.

Get the Recipe: Orzo Salad

Herbed Bulgur-Lentil Pilaf

Prepare a pilaf made out of bulgur and lentils for a nutty and nutritious alternative to a white-rice dish. The onions will add depth of flavor while the parsley, basil and chives liven up this humble dish.

Get the Recipe: Herbed Bulgur-Lentil Pilaf

Rice and Black Bean Pilaf

Ellie’s low-fat, high-protein take on rice and beans combines brown rice with black beans, cumin, chili flakes, carrots, celery and fresh herbs.

Get the Recipe: Rice and Black Bean Pilaf

Brown Rice Sweet and Sour Stir-Fry

Top brown rice with pineapple-glazed, stir-fried pork. A small amount of roasted peanuts adds maximum flavor without extra calories.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Stir-Fried Pork with Pineapple

Bal's Lentil Cookies

Even cookies make the “healthy” list when comprised of whole grains, lentils and rolled oats. Stir in chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds for sweet, nutty flavor.

Get the Recipe: Bal's Lentil Cookies