Skip to main content

Fiesta Barley Salad

A bright and colorful salad with a combination of grains, veggies, and fruit.
Bowl of mandarin orange and barley salad with a wooden serving fork.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Makes: 7 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

1 cup pearl barley (see Notes)
3 cups water
¼ cup raisins or other dried fruit
1 cup peas or other vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained and rinsed) (See Notes)
3 cups chopped lettuce
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
½ cup sliced green onion (any type)
1 Tablespoon vinegar (rice vinegar or any other)
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Place barley and water in a 2 to 3 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer until barley is tender, about 45 to 60 minutes.
  4. Rinse cooked barley in cold water for a short time. Drain and put into a large bowl.
  5. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Try substituting different fruits and vegetables.
  • Cook frozen vegetables according to package directions or to 165 degrees F.
  • Pearl barley is high in fiber but is not a whole grain. If using whole grain barley (also called hulled barley), add 20 to 30 minutes to the cooking time.
  • If you have barley that is already cooked, measure about 3 ½ cups into a bowl and continue with step 3.

Comments

Did this as an all school tasting and kids were not receptive to it because the green onions had too strong of a presence. Might try substituting bell pepper or cucumber with a small amount of cilantro instead next time.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Roasted Green Beans
Plater of tender green beans.

Roasted Green Beans

A simple and easy recipe for making summer fresh green beans. The perfect side for any meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Quick No-Cook Pizza Sauce
Tomato sauce blend being shown spread onto pizza dough.

Quick No-Cook Pizza Sauce

A quick and easy pizza sauce full of rich and tangy tomato and Italian herbs.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 Cups
Stovetop Teff
Bowl of fine textured teff.

Stovetop Teff

Teff has a mild and nutty flavor with a soft texture.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Muffins with golden brown tops and moist texture.

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Easy make-ahead breakfast or snack with banana and whole grains.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
12 Muffins
Slow Cooker Beans
Crock Pot with cooked red kidney beans.

Slow Cooker Beans

Making beans in the slow cooker is easy and can save you money. Season them the way you like and make enough to freeze for more easy meals.
Prepare:
5 minutes + 6 hours soaking
Cook:
4 to 6 hours
Makes:
6 cups
Frozen Strawberry Yogurt
Footed dessert glasses with a creamy pink blend.

Frozen Strawberry Yogurt

A kid-approved, 3-ingredient treat that only takes a few minutes to make!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
3 ½ Cups
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.