Walnut Mushroom And Barley Salad Sheila Food

MUSHROOM BARLEY

Steps:

• Cook 2 sliced onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil until caramelized, 20 to 25 minutes. Saute 3/4 pound sliced cremini mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter. Cook 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking barley in chicken broth as the label directs, then toss with the mushrooms, onions, some dill and salt.

MUSHROOM BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half the mushrooms with 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until deep golden, about 5 minutes, and transfer to a bowl. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil, remaining mushrooms, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook shallot in 1 tablespoon oil over low heat until softened. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and simmer until reduced by half.
• Remove from heat; whisk in creme fraiche and remaining tablespoon vinegar. Whisk in remaining 5 tablespoons oil until combined. Add chives and thyme, and season with salt and pepper; let cool. Combine lettuce, barley, mushrooms, nuts, and parsley. Add dressing, tossing to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

BARLEY SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the barley: In a medium stockpot, combine barley, stock, and 1½ teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered until barley is cooked through, about 45 minutes.
• For the onion mixture: Chop the shallots by cutting off the bottoms to make them flat. Then cut into the shallot lengthwise, leaving the root end intact; cut down and across for a clean dice. Peel the garlic by smashing it with the back of the knife. Remove the peel, cut the hard root off, and thinly slice. Slice the onion at an angle into half-moon shapes. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, followed by the shallots and onion. Add ½ teaspoon salt and the pepper; sweat until translucent, 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook until onions are thoroughly softened. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• For the mushrooms and asparagus: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat, followed by the mushrooms. Add a ½ teaspoon of salt and cook until they have released their liquid and begun to caramelize around the edges. Add the onion mixture back into the pan and set aside. Meanwhile, trim the asparagus by snapping the tough woody ends where they naturally break. Cut diagonally, on a bias.
• Once the grains have opened up and are plump, drain the barley. Spread in a single layer on a sheet tray to cool down. Reheat the mushroom/onion mixture and add the thyme, asparagus, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss and cook for 1 minute; then remove to the sheet tray with the barley. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the Parmesan; set aside.
• Assemble the dish: Place the cooled barley and asparagus mixture into a large mixing bowl. Toss, taste to adjust seasoning, and drizzle the vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil around the edge of the bowl, followed by the Parmesan shavings. Gently toss again, taste for seasoning, and serve.

HERBED GRAIN SALAD WITH MUSHROOMS, HAZELNUTS AND PEARS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in barley and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until tender but not mushy, 30 to 40 minutes. (Different grains will cook at different rates.)
• Make the dressing: In a food processor, combine the greens, dill and garlic and process until finely chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the whole nuts and pulse a few times to coarsely chop. While the motor is running, add the 3/4 cup oil gradually in a slow stream and process until smooth. Add the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper (12 to 16 grinds), and mix. Taste and adjust the seasonings with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. It should taste bright and rich.
• Cook the mushrooms: In a wide, medium-size pot, combine the mushrooms and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Stir in the 2 tablespoons oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are completely cooked through and well browned, 5 to 10 minutes more. (The mushrooms will shrink quite a bit.) Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt.
• When the barley is cooked, drain it well and return to the pot. Let cool until warm, stirring occasionally. (If the dressing is added when the grains are too hot, it will turn brown and taste "cooked.") Stir in a little oil if needed to prevent sticking. Stir in dressing and set aside, stirring occasionally, to let the grains absorb the dressing, at least 10 minutes.
• When ready to serve, taste the barley and season again. Gently mix in mushrooms, pear and chopped nuts. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with lots of dill, and serve warm or at room temperature.

RADICCHIO SALAD WITH CRUNCHY SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS AND BARLEY

Steps:

• Combine barley, onion, garlic and 1 tablespoon kosher salt in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the barley by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high, then lower heat to medium-low and simmer until the grains are plump and tender, about 40 minutes. Drain the mixture, and discard the onion and garlic.
• After barley has cooked about 30 minutes, prepare the mushrooms: Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and the ends are starting to curl and crisp, 9 to 10 minutes. Using a pair of tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the mushrooms to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt and pepper.
• Return the skillet with the oil back to medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes; turn off the heat. While the oil is still hot, stir in balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper.
• On a platter, layer the radicchio with cooked barley and drizzle with balsamic vinegar dressing. Top with reserved mushrooms, parsley and dill before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

HERBY BARLEY SALAD WITH BUTTER-BASTED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cook barley in a medium pot of boiling salted water until tender, 50-60 minutes for hulled or hull-less, 20-30 minutes for pearl. Drain; spread out on a baking sheet and let cool.
• Meanwhile, cook shallots in vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally to keep shallots from burning, until golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels to drain; season with salt. Let cool. Set shallot cooking oil aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high until just beginning to smoke. Arrange mushrooms in skillet in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until undersides are golden brown, about 3 minutes. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper, toss, and continue to cook, tossing often and reducing heat as needed to avoid scorching, until golden brown all over, about 5 minutes longer.
• Reduce heat to medium and add thyme sprigs, garlic, and butter to skillet. Tip skillet toward you so butter pools at edge and use a spoon to baste mushrooms with foaming butter; cook until butter smells nutty. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a small bowl, leaving thyme and garlic behind.
• Toss cooled barley, cilantro, parsley, lemon juice, 1 1/2 oz. Parmesan, and 2 Tbsp. reserved shallot oil in a large bowl to combine; season with salt and pepper. Add mushrooms; toss again to combine.
• Just before serving, top with fried shallots and more shaved Parmesan.
• Do ahead
• Barley can be cooked 1 day ahead. Let cool; store airtight and chill. Dish can be made 3 hours ahead; store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

MUSHROOM AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine mushrooms, walnuts, sour cream, green onions, lemon juice, salt, and pepper; cover and refrigerate until serving.
• To serve, arrange lettuce leaves to form a nest in 4 serving bowls; spoon mushroom salad into lettuce and serve.