Fiesta Barley Salad

Name: Fiesta Barley Salad
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Yield: 7 cups
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

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

Wash hands with soap and water.
Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
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 ½ cups into a bowl and continue with step 3.

Comments

Submitted by Ldnls08 (not verified) on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 16:12

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.