Mediterranean Barley Salad Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Add barley and chicken stock to a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Set aside.
• Place the chicken breast in a roasting pan, skin side up. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add about ¼ cup of water to the bottom of the pan. Roast at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees. Once the chicken is cool, discard the skin and bones and cut into cubes. Set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and garlic to a deep pot. Cook garlic on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add spinach and crushed red pepper flakes. Saute until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Drain off any excess liquid and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the barley, cubed chicken, wilted spinach, grape tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese and Italian dressing. Stir together and re-season if necessary. Serve at room temperature.

MEDITERRANEAN RAW CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the feta, yogurt, olive oil, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a mini food processor or blender. Puree until thick and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally (the mixture will seem thick at first but will thin as you blend). Refrigerate while you make the salad.
• Combine the corn, cucumber, radishes, celery, olives and pickled peppers in a medium bowl. Add the vinegar, oregano and a pinch each of salt and pepper and let stand, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley and dill, toss and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread the yogurt sauce on a large plate or platter and top with the corn salad. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.

CARIBBEAN BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Add barley; cover and simmer until tender yet firm to the bite, about 20 minutes. Drain any excess cooking liquid and let cool completely, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Mash 1/4 of the mango against the side of a large bowl using a fork or potato masher. Whisk in lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add barley, remaining mango, black beans, grape tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeno; toss until well-combined.

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT AND BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Roast eggplant and zucchini:
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Toss eggplant and zucchini with 5 tablespoons oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl, then spread in 2 oiled large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pans. Roast vegetables in oven, stirring occasionally and switching position of pans halfway through baking, until vegetables are golden brown and tender, 20 to 25 minutes total. Combine vegetables in 1 pan and cool, reserving other pan for cooling barley.
• Cook barley:
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook scallion, cumin, coriander, and cayenne, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add barley and cook, stirring until well coated with oil, 2 minutes more. Add broth and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until all of liquid is absorbed and barley is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Transfer to reserved shallow baking pan and spread to quickly cool, uncovered, to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Make dressing and assemble salad:
• Whisk together lemon juice, garlic, sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add barley, roasted vegetables, and remaining ingredients to bowl with dressing and toss until combined well. Serve with cheese slices.

MEDITERRANEAN BARLEY RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In saucepan of boiling salted water, cook barley until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water; drain well. Let stand for 10 minutes to dry. Transfer to large bowl.
• Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups salted water to boil. Add rice; cover, reduce heat, and simmer until tender and no liquid remains, about 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add to barley mixture; let cool.
• Cut tomatoes in half; add to barley mixture. Cut onion, red pepper, and cucumber into 1 inch chunks, add to barley, tossing to combine.
• Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper, pour over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
• To serve, stir in spinach and feta cheese.