Tonight I had a mini victory in the kitchen.
I made a completely vegetarian dinner and Ryan didn’t even bat an eye at the lack of meat in the dish.
Ryan is actually pretty great about eating vegetarian dishes, but he’ll sometimes say something like, “I bet this would be amazing with chicken in it.”
Yeah, yeah.
You will eat your beans and you will like them! 
Well, tonight Ryan didn’t even mention the fact that no meat was found anywhere near our dinner. In fact, he said it was really great and “the perfect winter meal” because it was so warm and comforting.
Butternut Squash Wheatberry Mock Risotto
- Serves: Two as an entrée, four as a side dish
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme
- 1 cup wheatberries
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 heaping cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into cubes
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Directions:
- Heat oil in a medium size pot over medium heat. Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are slightly soft, about five minutes. Add wheatberries and allow to cook, stirring constantly, for approximately two minutes.
- Turn the heat to medium-high. Add broth and butternut squash. Stir constantly and allow to simmer until broth is nearly completely dissolved and butternut squash breaks down and becomes creamy (somewhat like mashed potatoes), approximately 25 – 30 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Add spinach and stir until leaves are somewhat wilted.
- Divide up mock risotto and enjoy!
Something about this dish reminded me so much of creamy risotto, but with a chewier texture that I really enjoyed thanks to the wheatberries.
This was definitely one of my favorite meals I’ve made in a while. I also think it would be a great side dish on Thanksgiving. The butternut squash in the dish simply screams fall!
And now I wish we had leftovers.
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I feel lucky! My husband is definitely a meat-lover, but if I ever make him anything he doesn’t complain. Probably helped that I’ve been a vegetarian since I was a kid. So he knew at the very beginning meat wasn’t part of the equation.
This looks delicious! I’ll have to stick to the rice version so it’s gluten-free, but yum!
That looks really good! and nice pics too! 🙂
Yum! I’m gonna have to try this out in the slow cooker!
wow this looks FANTASTIC! i love love love risotto… but wheat berries as well! can’t wait to try this new recipe.
This looks scrumptious!
That looks sooo awesome and comforting!!! Will definitely bookmark this recipe! 😀
I’ve been planning to make a butternut squash risotto and love your idea of using wheat berries – they are so satisfying!
do you cook the wheatberries prior to adding them in step 1?
nope!
this looks delicious, and definitely a little different from what you normally cook! lol and i love that it was so good Ryan didn’t make a peep about the lack of meat! I’ll have to send this recipe to my sister in law and see if my brother says anything!
Yum that looks really good!! Perfectly creamy!
I wish I liked wheatberries- but alas, I don’t. I’m thinking I may be able to make this with quinoa or barley though- just modify it a little (maybe shortened cooking time)?
Ryan sounds like my boyfriend… if there’s not enough or any meat in a meal I’ll tell him to go knaw on some beef jerkey or something! Men will be men! 🙂 This dish looks super yummy btw.
I’ve never had wheatberries. They look neat though!
This looks delicious!! Do you have the nutrition info? Thanks for such an AMAZING blog. It inspires me daily! 🙂
Yum this looks delicious! I’ve never had wheatberries but am tempted to try it.
You are so clever! I’ve never had wheatberry? Is is like spelt? I’ve been loving that lately!
yum! skip the cheese and it’s vegan 🙂
i’d love to see more veg recipes on here…
love your site!
Looks yummy! I’m trying to do the same thing with my husband, but it’s not going so well. I will definitely try this though!
Recipe looks great — will try it tonight! Quick question though–at Whole Foods they have the Red Hard Winter Wheatberries & Wheatberries (soft pastry) — which one do you recommend? Thanks!
oh my gosh, i am assuming the hard winter wheatberries b/c they’re REALLY hard, but i’m not positive! i didn’t know there were different kinds!
Thanks — I guessed and picked the hard winter ones when I was at Whole Foods — now I’m reassured I that I probably guessed the right one. Can’t wait to try the recipe tonight!
I get wheatberries in the Latin foods section in my grocery store. The label usually says “hulled wheat” in English. I’ve used both varieties interchangeably, but if you want a bit more chew you should go with the winter wheat.
Julie that looks amazing!!!
This looks really good! I’m totally a sucker for creamy soups with spinach in them. There’s something about the spinach mixed with the creaminess and a good noodle. Mmm. So wintery!
This looks fantastic! Soothing almost. Although I’m not a fan of wheatberries – is there a vegetable I could substitute it with? I made your slow-cooker sweet potato and chicken stew a few days ago – delish!
yum!!! this looks awesome!
If using quinoa, should I pre-cook it or follow the same directions as above?
I made this last night and it was delicious!!! It’s my first time trying wheat berries and I love them! Thanks for the delicious recipe!
that makes me so happy! so glad you liked it!
Just added this to my to-make list! Going to try it with Quinoa!
Why mock ricotto, though? Do you not eat rice?
I made this last night and it was SO GOOD!!
Due to a dwindling supply of wheatberries, I used 1/2 wheatberries and 1/2 barley. I think I actually preferred the barley! I also used kale instead of spinach (cut into small pieces and steamed first).
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! It was delicious and easy – I am sure I’ll be making this quite often 🙂
Do you cook the wheatberries first? Boil them ?
I made this tonight except for I used barley instead of wheat berries, mozzarella instead of parm, chicken stock instead of veggie, and italian seasoning instead of thyme. I also stirred in about 2 splashes of milk at the end. It was delicious! Thanks Julie 🙂 I definitely will make this again and add goat cheese.
This looks INCREDIBLE, girl. Must make this stat!
I made this last week for a friend and we both LOVED it. I had an extra serving let over and for once couldn’t wait to have leftovers! I am thinking I may just make it for myself sometime and eat it every night of the week- I don’t think I’d get sick of it. I’ve been sharing the link with everyone I know, one of my friends has already made it. Thanks so much for sharing, such an easy/delicious/healthy recipe. It tastes so rich, but is so healthy. I could go on and on…
Love your blog! I made this with pearled slow cook barley. Oh my goodness. Sooo yummy. Thanks for writing such an entertaining blog. A friend in Ocala recommended it, and we have since moved to Denver a month ago. It’s cold, and this was perfect for tonight, though my husband still said this would go well with fish. Some habits of not having meat are hard to take for men. Thanks again!!!
Looks creamy and delicious! I really want to try and make this soon! Check my page for a great Sweet Potato- maple quinuoaaa. Def more a sweet treat! Great recipes you have! What caught my attention was the name of your blog! I have a slight obsession with peanut butter 🙂
THIS IS TERRIBLE! I COOKED IT FOR OVER AN HOUR AND THE WHEATBERRIES WERE STILL HARD. I HAD TO THROW THE ENTIRE DISH OUT!
i’m so sorry. it’s hard for me to understand how the wheat berries wouldn’t cook in an hour? have you had wheat berries before? they are supposed to be quite chewy when they’re fully cooked.
I recently found your blog and must say that I love it. I love that you are healhty and fit, yet normal and eat a huge thing of frozen yogurt and what not now and then, and feel great about it! I just tried the risotto tonight and it was fabulous. My hubby liked it too! Yay. I didn’t have wheat berries so I used Kamut. I did have to cook it alot longer and add more broth (expected), but it was well worth the wait. I posted it on my personal family blog 🙂
thank you so much, stacy! i’m so glad you found me! 🙂
BRAVO, job well done!! This recipe is a winner with myself & husband. I added 1 cup of cut up chicken; pair it with a green salad, complete meal. Next time I’m doubling the recipe.