Barley and Herb Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Nutty pearl barley tossed with fresh herbs and zesty lemon vinaigrette for a vibrant Mediterranean dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Herbs & Vegetables

04 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 small cucumber, diced

→ Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 garlic clove, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Direction Steps:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Add pearl barley, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Drain any excess water and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cooled barley with parsley, mint, dill, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the barley mixture and toss gently to combine.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • High in fiber and incredibly satisfying thanks to the pearl barley.
  • Bursting with fresh, aromatic herbs like mint and dill.
  • Perfect for meal prep as it stays fresh in the fridge for days.
02 -
  • Always rinse your barley before cooking to remove excess starch for a better texture.
  • Use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best dressing flavor.
  • Ensure you finely dice the red onion so its flavor is distributed evenly without being overpowering.
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