Barley and Herb Salad (Printable)

Nutty pearl barley tossed with fresh herbs and zesty lemon vinaigrette for a refreshing Mediterranean-style 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

# Directions:

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 25–30 minutes until tender. Drain excess water and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cooled barley, 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 fully emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over the barley mixture and toss gently to ensure even coating.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The nutty barley stays chewy and substantial, making this feel like an actual meal instead of just rabbit food.
  • It tastes even better the next day after the flavors get to know each other, so it's perfect for meal prep without the effort.
  • One bowl, fresh herbs, and lemon juice—nothing fussy, everything delicious.
02 -
  • Don't add the dressing while the barley is still warm or the oil will separate and the herbs will turn dark and sad—cold barley accepts the dressing like a blanket.
  • Those herbs will oxidize and lose their bright green color after a few hours, so if you're prepping ahead, keep them separate and fold them in right before serving.
03 -
  • Buy your herbs the day you plan to make this—they're at their brightest and will taste noticeably fresher than slightly older bundles.
  • If your tomatoes are mealy or flavorless, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the dressing to compensate and pull out any hidden taste.
Return