Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sugar Snap Pea and Barley Salad



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a wonderful salad that adapts easily to al fresco dining. Barley, at least in my home, is a woefully neglected grain. I've recently made an effort to include more of it in our diet. I've found it to be a lovely grain with a nutty taste that offers a slight resistance to the tooth. If you rinse it properly after cooking, you'll find it to be a delicious addition to your table. I've made the salad for this post with snap peas, but green beans could easily be substituted. Plan on making this salad the day before you plan to serve it. The flavors of the dressing need time to permeate the salad. It's also important not to overcook the vegetables you add to the barley. You want them to be crisp tender, so they will add some crunch to the salad. I know those of you who try this salad will enjoy it. The recipe originally came from Eating Well Magazine, so you know this fiber rich dish is good for you. It will make a great addition to your grain and salad repertoire. Here's the recipe.

Sugar Snap Pea and Barley Salad
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Eating Well Magazine

Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup quick-cooking barley
8 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed and sliced into matchsticks
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions (white and tender green)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1) Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add barley and cook, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package directions. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
2) Rinse barley under cool water and transfer to a large bowl. Add snap peas, parsley, onion, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and toss to combine. Refrigerate. Serve chilled. Yield 4 to 6 servings.








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You might also enjoy these recipes:
Barley Apricot Salad with Almonds - Fit Foodista
Mushroom Barley Soup - Bon Appetit Hon
Mushroom and Barley Ragout - Jenny's Cookbook
Mushroom Barley Risotto - Brown Eyed Baker
Moosewood Mushroom Barley Soup - The Apron Archives
Spring Barley Risotto - Lisa is Cooking
Beef Barley Soup - Sea Salt with Food
Rice and Barley Side Dish - Living the Gourmet
Carrot Barley Galettes - Chocolate and Zucchini
Asian Style Barley Pilaf - The Kitchen Masochist

26 comments :

Anonymous said...

A Sugar Snap Pea and Barley Salad sounds fabulous. I have only every cooked with barley in soups before.
:-) Mandy
PS. Hope the repairs of your computer are going well.

Anonymous said...

thank you for this Mary! I so seldom use my barley either :)

Maureen said...

This looks so fresh and delicious! Going to have to try this one. It's beautiful to look at !

Unknown said...

This looks so refreshing and delicious! You're right about barley being neglected - I never think of using it! Thanks for the great reminder and beautiful photo!

blackbookkitchendiaries said...

this is simply elegant! i love already:)

Unknown said...

I'll admit that I don't cook with barley, but that does not mean I would not like this salad! YUM! It looks and sounds wonderful!

penny aka jeroxie said...

Oh! New way to use barley. And so healthy as well :)

Anonymous said...

LOVE sugar snap peas! Thanks Mary for this great recipe.
Karen

Jeannie said...

Barley salad? Interesting way of cooking barley which I usually just boil with candied winter melon and drink as a dessert on a hot day!

Pure Complex said...

I've never tried anything like this snap pea and barley salad but I have to admit this looks delicious. I can't wait to save this recipe.

Khadija El Mary said...

Barley Salad! Very healthy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Have a great day Mary,
Cheers

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is so beautiful! And easy, as well. It could really be a whole meal if you add some iced tea and maybe a roll.

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Hi Mary! This salad looks so healthy and delicious! I haven't had time to come by your blog for maybe 2-3 posts and I just wondered... HOW DO YOU DO IT everyday...cooking + blogging and all the rest of chores and everything you have to do. I just admire your hard work and I and I'm sure your readers appreciate it very much.

Banana Wonder said...

love the grains! What a great combo with the nutty barley and sweet peas.

The Blonde Duck said...

Add this with those dips and you've got a perfect dinner!

Angie's Recipes said...

The salad looks not only pretty, but also very tasty!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I love barley, and this is a lovely main dish salad especially as there will be ample fresh snap peas shortly!

Anonymous said...

This really is a beautiful salad, Mary. I love the barley in there for added nutrition and chewy texture. Hope you're having a wonderful week!

Barbara said...

I've been seeing barley in so many salads lately, Mary. It's nice to see it outside soup!
Jamie Oliver made a side dish with it recently.
This is inspiring me...I'm going to bring home some barley next visit to the market.

From the Kitchen said...

I'm "in tune" as I just picked up some barley at Whole Foods. It usually goes into soup but this recipe looks and sounds quite tasty and our weather is calling for coolness from the kitchen!

I'm "back" and looking forward to catching up on what has been on your table.

Best,
Bonnie

Catherine said...

Dear Mary, Sugar snap peas are one of my favorite. I grow them each year. The salad sounds delish! Blessings, Catherine xo

Anonymous said...

I love snap peas, they're so fresh with just the right amount of crunch. They look fantastic in this salad. Gorgeous!

briarrose said...

Fresh and colorful. Love it.

linksdistodaquilo said...

this is simply elegant! i love already:)

Elaine said...

What a beautiful salad! I'm sorry to hear about your computer problems. Hope you have a great Saturday.

sangeeta said...

Hi i am here for the first time and i feel so glad to be here. Loved every bit of this blog and this barley salad is so my type of food. We don't get sugar snap peas in India n i make this salad with different greens and sprouts etc.
Wonderful pictures you have.

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