Barley and Herb Salad (Printable)

Nutty pearl barley tossed with fresh herbs and zesty lemon vinaigrette for a vibrant Mediterranean dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Herbs & Vegetables

04 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 small cucumber, diced

→ Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 garlic clove, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add barley, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25–30 minutes until tender. Drain excess water and cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cooled barley, parsley, mint, dill, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over barley mixture and toss gently to combine.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of salad that actually gets better after a few hours in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep or potlucks
  • The combination of fresh mint, dill, and parsley creates this incredibly bright flavor profile that feels like sunshine on a plate
02 -
  • Letting the barley cool completely before tossing with dressing prevents the herbs from wilting and keeps the whole salad fresh and vibrant
  • Wait to add dressing until just before serving, as the barley will continue absorbing liquid and become soggy if dressed too far in advance
03 -
  • Spread the cooked barley on a rimmed baking sheet and pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes to cool it down quickly without making it soggy
  • Chill your serving bowl in the fridge for 20 minutes before assembling the salad, which helps keep everything fresh longer
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