Italian Barley Salad
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This colorful and flavorful Italian Barley Salad is a great make-ahead dish and is perfect for your next potluck, picnic, BBQ or any other occasion!
I did something I never thought I’d do.
I never, ever thought I’d replicate, or even want to replicate, airplane food. But I did and here it is!
On a recent trip back home from Europe we were served a barley salad as the side dish and it was actually very good. So much so that our 6 year-old daughter asked if she could have ours too! Fortunately for me our 8 year-old son didn’t want his :) As our daughter was eating it she asked me if I could make it “as soon as” we got back home. So the next day she got her wish.
This salad is a great make-ahead salad as the flavor is even better the next day.
Let’s get started!
Make a batch of Homemade Italian Dressing.
Place all the veggies and parsley in a large bowl and add the cooled, cooked barley. Stir to combine.
Add the Homemade Italian Dressing and stir to thoroughly combine.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours before serving.
Enjoy!
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Italian Barley Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup uncooked pearl barley (for GF version use quinoa, millet or GF grain of choice)
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 3 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 3/4 cup Homemade Italian Dressing (click link for recipe)
Instructions
- Cook the barley in salted water for about 45 minutes or until the barley is tender but still chewy. Drain and cool completely.
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add the Homemade Italian Dressing and stir to thoroughly combine. Chill in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours before serving. Can be made a day ahead.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
This is fabulous, and I truly love barley. Although I use hulled barley, which isn’t processed, so it’s much chewier! Great ingredients in the salad and dressing!
Fantastic, Mimi, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate the feedback, thank you!
I just made this last night for camping this weekend! Can’t wait to try it! I absolutely love just about every one of your recipes! :)
You are awesome, Stephanie, thank you so much! :)
Really delicious. Great flavor combo. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you, Louis, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
So delicious and so simple!
We love salads at our house & can’t wait to try this! It looks so tasty!
This looks amazing and so easy to make!
Saving to make for my end of summer parties!
What a great recipe! Perfect for hot summer days!
Looks delicious and so easy to make! !
What a delicious idea. I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!
It looks amazing! My husband will love this, for sure!
This looks so fresh & delicious!
This looks like something my whole family will love! Can’t wait to make it ASAP!!
You can never have enough delicious side dishes for summer! This sounds amazing!
This salad looks absolutely delicious!