Barley and Herb Salad (Printer View)

Tender pearl barley tossed with fresh parsley, mint, and dill 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

# Method:

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 until tender. Drain any excess liquid and 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 fully emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over barley mixture and toss gently to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The barley stays perfectly chewy even after two days in the fridge making it ideal for meal prep
  • Fresh mint and dill transform ordinary grain salad into something that feels fancy without any fuss
02 -
  • Barley continues to absorb liquid as it sits so add extra dressing right before serving leftovers
  • The salad tastes best after it has chilled for at least an hour which lets the onions mellow out
03 -
  • Toasting the barley in a dry pan for 3 minutes before cooking adds a wonderful nutty depth
  • Chill your mixing bowl for 10 minutes before tossing the salad to keep everything crisp longer
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