Mediterranean Barley Salad

A chilled grain salad with sun-dried tomatoes in a balsamic dressing. See more

READY IN 1¾ hrs

Mediterranean Barley Salad

Read Reviews (32)

"A great chilled whole-grain salad to serve with grilled chicken, or on its own for lunch. Can be improved with a combination of whole grains, but the barley works on its own." — DrkEyedCajn

Directions

Bring barley and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the barley is tender, but still slightly firm in the center, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool to room temperature in a bowl.
Puree the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a blender until smooth. Pour over the barley. Fold in the cilantro, olives, and remaining olive oil until blended. Cover, and refrigerate until cold. Stir before serving.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 15 mins
COOK 30 mins
READY IN 1 hr 45 mins

Reviews More Reviews

Most Helpful Positive Review

Jul 21, 2008

This salad is okay, but I don't like black olives and I thought it was missing something. I substituted Kalamata olives for the black olives, used basil instead of cilantro, and added chopped cucumber. You can also add a can of garbanzo beans to make it a vegetarian main dish. We topped with feta cheese, for a real Mediterranean flair. With the modifications, it was great!

—philosophia

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Jan 03, 2011

although DH and I enjoy trying new recipes, this was a total flop. May have been a texture issue for us.

—grammaluvscookin

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38 Ratings

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Apr 24, 2008

This is a very good healthy salad. I decided to get "creative", and I added a large spoonful of a great artichoke tapenade (Gertie's) that I got at Costco....it was a huge jar & I was looking for more ways to use it up. The second time I made this salad I used roasted red peppers (in the jar) in place of the dried tomatoes in the dressing. Yum, yum. A great salad to experiment with!

—trishthedish725

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Dec 01, 2008

Excellent salad. Someone mentioned having the feeling that something was missing. I agree, I added a 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese and a little bit of salt and it worked great for me.

—Wayne

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Jul 05, 2010

Delicious! I doubled the dressing, used basil instead of cilantro, kalamata olives, and made it one day in advance. Before serving, I added feta cheese and some finely diced red bell pepper for colour.

—ANDREA VETERE CANADA

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Apr 14, 2008

I've been looking for more ways to include healthy grains into my family's diet, and this salad worked perfectly as a side. It was yummy, satisfying, and easy to make! I'm going to have the leftovers for lunch today. I didn't change anything, although the olives I bought at the deli were marinated in olive oil and mixed with pine nuts which was a nice addition to the salad. I might add some chili pepper flakes next time, just to give it a little kick.

—MrsBoumendil

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May 21, 2008

Love this recipe. I added toasted pine nuts, more olive oil folded in and a little bit of red wine vinegar.

—KT1

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Dec 08, 2010

One of my favorite recipes. Barley is a nice change of pace for a salad. I add chicken and feta cheese.

—Liz

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Nutrition

Calories
220 kcal
11%

Carbohydrates
25.9 g
8%

Cholesterol
0 mg
0%

Fat
11.8 g
18%

Fiber
6.3 g
25%

Protein
4.5 g
9%

Sodium
221 mg
9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Mediterranean Barley Salad

Serving Size: 1/6 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 220
Calories from Fat: 106

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11.8g 18 %
** Saturated Fat 1.7g 8 %
Cholesterol 0mg 0 %
Sodium 221mg 9 %
Potassium 247mg 7 %
Total Carbohydrates 25.9g 8 %
Dietary Fiber 6.3g 25 %
Protein 4.5g 9 %
Sugars 1.5g
Vitamin A 7 %
Vitamin C 4 %
Calcium 5 %
Iron 21 %
** Thiamin 22 %
** Niacin 21 %
** Vitamin B6 8 %
** Magnesium 17 %
** Folate 5 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.