Barley and Herb Salad (Printable Version)

Nutty pearl barley tossed with fresh herbs and vegetables in zesty lemon dressing.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

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

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • The barley keeps you satisfied for hours without that heavy post meal slump
  • Fresh herbs turn simple grains into something that tastes restaurant worthy
02 -
  • Hot barley will wilt fresh herbs and make tomatoes mushy, so patience during cooling pays off
  • The flavors actually improve after sitting for an hour, giving the dressing time to penetrate the grains
03 -
  • Chop herbs right before tossing to prevent them from turning dark
  • Toast the barley in a dry pan before cooking for an extra nutty depth
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