Our summer Barley Salad is flavored with a homemade Basil Lime Vinaigrette. Juicy blueberries for sweetness, baby greens for texture and toasted almonds for a bit of crunch make every forkful of our cold grain salad a taste of summer.
Salad season is here! And not just lettuce salads, grain salads too!
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Barley Grain Salad
Add in fragrant fresh mint and sweet plump blueberries and this easy salad recipe is screaming summer.
Lime gives it bright citrus notes and baby greens add a touch of lettuce.
Red onion lends just the right amount of savory for a delicious side dish salad.
Our Barley Salad will complement your summer dinner menu for sure!
I developed this recipe for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Hop on over to their site and you’ll find some great information about blueberries!
While you’re there read all about my tips and tricks for baking with blueberries in my interview on the U.S. Blueberry Highbush Council’s blog.
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Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!
How to make salad with pearl barley
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Cook barley according to package directions; let cool.
- In a serving bowl combine olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, sugar, salt and pepper until blended. Stir in chopped basil.
- Add the cooked barley, blueberries, baby greens, almonds and red onion, tossing until evenly coated.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- You can cook the barley ahead of time
- You can also make the lime dressing ahead
Substitutions
- Substitute fresh raspberries for the blueberries
- You can use baby arugula in place of the mixed baby greens
- Make this recipe with your favorite nut in place of the almonds
- Use orange juice and orange zest instead of the lime juice and lime zest
What baby greens can I use in this barley salad?
Any of the following tender greens will taste wonderful:
- Arugula
- Baby kale
- Baby romaine
- Baby spinach
- Dandelion greens
- Frisee
- Mache
- Mixed baby greens
- Spring mix
- Watercress
How can I make this recipe into a main dish salad?
Top our Barley Salad with any of these cooked proteins and turn it into a main dish salad:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Tofu
Ingredients
Ingredients for barley summer salad:
- uncooked barley
- olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- lime
- sugar
- salt
- pepper
- fresh basil
- fresh blueberries
- baby greens
- sliced almonds
- red onion
Easy Salad Recipes
Pesto Tomato Salad is an easy 4 ingredient recipe that will be the star on your table. Garden fresh tomatoes and red onion are tossed in a homemade pesto transforming juicy tomatoes into a recipe that’s bursting with fresh flavor and summertime goodness.
Jalapeno Lime Summer Fruit Salad , an easy fruit salad recipe that’s bursting with sweet juicy berries and watermelon, fresh mint, zesty lime and a hint of jalapeno heat, is a refreshing addition to your summer menu.
Make our Pesto Pasta Salad and toss pasta with pesto, tomatoes, bocconcini and Parmesan, just 5 ingredients, for a bowl full of fresh summertime flavors!
Barley Salad With Baby Greens and Basil Vinaigrette
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Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked barley , preferably pearl barley
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbs. lime juice
- 1 tsp. lime zest
- 1 tsp. sugar
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil leaves
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups baby greens , such as arugula or baby kale
- ½ cup sliced almonds , toasted
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
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Instructions
- Cook barley according to package directions; let cool.
- In serving bowl combine olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, sugar, salt and pepper until blended. Stir in chopped basil.
- Add cooked barley, blueberries, baby greens, almonds and red onion, tossing until evenly coated. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
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