A bright and colorful salad with a combination of grains, veggies, and fruit.
Fiesta Barley Salad

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
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- 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.
- Rinse cooked barley in cold water for a short time. Drain and put into a large bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
- 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 1/2 cups into a bowl and continue with step 3.
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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.