Barley Mediterranean Salad Zesty (Printable Version)

Enjoy barley with fresh vegetables and a zesty lemon-herb blend. Perfect for light meals or sides.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

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

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

11 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Garnish

17 - 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

# How To Make:

01 - Rinse pearl barley thoroughly under cold running water. In a medium saucepan, combine barley, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25–30 minutes until barley is tender. Drain any excess water and allow barley to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, diced red bell pepper, sliced Kalamata olives, chopped parsley, and chopped mint.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Add cooled barley to the bowl of vegetables. Pour dressing over the mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
05 - Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to serving to allow flavors to develop. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses everyday ingredients so you can whip it up with pantry and fridge basics
  • Make-ahead friendly and perfect for meal prepping
  • Satisfying texture and flavor from chewy barley with crunchy fresh veggies
  • Easily adaptable for vegan or dairy-free diets just skip the feta or swap for a plant-based version
02 -
  • High in fiber so it keeps you full for hours
  • Vegan and dairy-free adaptable making it fit almost any diet
  • Freezes well even with dressing so save leftovers all week
03 -
  • Choose barley with a glossy finish for best texture
  • Always let the salad chill before serving for bright flavor
  • Mix dressing just before tossing to keep vegetables crisp
  • Never skip rinsing the barley before cooking to prevent gumminess
  • Cool cooked barley completely so veggies stay crisp in the final mix
  • Use a bold extra virgin olive oil for a richer dressing
  • If serving at a party toss in fresh herbs and feta right before guests arrive for best color and taste

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