Italian Barley Salad Food

BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Bring salted water to a boil. Add barley, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook 25 minutes or until barley is tender. Drain any liquid and cool completely.
• While barley is cooking, chop vegetables and place in a large bowl.
• Add cooled barley and dressing. Toss well to combine.
• Garnish with feta cheese and parsley. Chill 1 hour before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Bring barley and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the barley is tender, but still slightly firm in the center, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool to room temperature in a bowl.
• Puree the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a blender until smooth. Pour over the barley. Fold in the cilantro, olives, and remaining olive oil until blended. Cover, and refrigerate until cold. Stir before serving.

QUICK ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
• Combine pasta, salami, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, onion, salad dressing, olives, and mozzarella cheese in a large bowl. Mix dry salad dressing into pasta; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

ITALIAN BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Cook barley or brown rice according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine prosciutto strips, tomatoes, peppers, green onions, basil, parmigiano, olive oil. lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the cooled barley and toss to blend.

SOUTHWESTERN BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the water, lemon juice, onion, oil and garlic; shake well. Pour over barley mixture and toss to coat. Serve on lettuce-lined plates. Garnish with avocado and tomatoes.

ITALIAN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Bring soup stock and water to a boil in a large stockpot.
• Reduce heat and add barley, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, red wine, lemon, pepper, and salt.
• Cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent barley from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Add the herbs, tomatoes, and tomato paste and cook for 1 more hour.
• Leave the lid on during cooking and occasionally check to see if you need to add water.
• Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT AND BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Roast eggplant and zucchini:
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Toss eggplant and zucchini with 5 tablespoons oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl, then spread in 2 oiled large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pans. Roast vegetables in oven, stirring occasionally and switching position of pans halfway through baking, until vegetables are golden brown and tender, 20 to 25 minutes total. Combine vegetables in 1 pan and cool, reserving other pan for cooling barley.
• Cook barley:
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook scallion, cumin, coriander, and cayenne, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add barley and cook, stirring until well coated with oil, 2 minutes more. Add broth and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until all of liquid is absorbed and barley is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Transfer to reserved shallow baking pan and spread to quickly cool, uncovered, to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Make dressing and assemble salad:
• Whisk together lemon juice, garlic, sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add barley, roasted vegetables, and remaining ingredients to bowl with dressing and toss until combined well. Serve with cheese slices.

VEGETABLE-BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Thinly slice red onion and toss with vinegar; set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add barley. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until barley is tender and water is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Thinly slice kale leaves and add to a large bowl along with cooked barley, red onion mixture, tomatoes, cucumber, and bell pepper. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.