Warm Acorn Squash And Barley Salad Food

SQUASH & BARLEY SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Place the squash on a baking tray and toss with olive oil. Roast for 20 mins. Meanwhile, boil the barley for about 25 mins in salted water until tender, but al dente. While this is happening, whisk the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then season with salt and pepper. Drain the barley, then tip it into a bowl and pour over the dressing. Mix well and let it cool.
• Boil the broccoli in salted water until just tender, then drain and rinse in cold water. Drain and pat dry. Add the broccoli and remaining ingredients to the barley and mix well. This will keep for 3 days in the fridge and is delicious warm or cold.

BARLEY SALAD WITH SQUASH AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss squash with 2 teaspoons oil and season with salt and pepper; arrange in a single layer. On another rimmed baking sheet, toss broccoli with 2 teaspoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Place squash on top rack and broccoli on bottom rack and roast until tender, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then cut squash slices in half.
• Meanwhile, cook barley according to package instructions. Drain and let cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons oil, lemon juice, and shallot; season with salt and pepper. Add squash, broccoli, barley, almonds, and raisins. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with Parmesan.

STUFFED ACORN SQUASH WITH SAUSAGE, BARLEY AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Brush the squash with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Season aggressively with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Add 1 tablespoon water to the baking sheet and bake until tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Warm the remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and shallots and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning, sage and 3 ounces water and cook until the herbs are tender, about 2 minutes. Stir to combine.
• Add the sausage to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is golden brown and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Add water as needed to deglaze the pan and prevent sticking while cooking.
• Transfer the sausage mixture to a large bowl and toss with the barley and lemon zest. Stir in the goat cheese, until large clumps still remain but are evenly dispersed. Stir and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Fill each squash half with the sausage mixture and bake cut-side up until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the honey before serving.

BARLEY SALAD WITH SQUASH

Steps:

• In a heavy 2 to 3 quart saucepan heat the vegetable oil; add the barley and cook the grain, stirring constantly, until it smells toasty. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Averting your face, add the water (it will bubble up furiously) Return the saucepan to the heat, cover and cook for about 2O to 25 minutes or until barley has absorbed the liquid and is just tender. Transfer the barley to a sieve and drain under cold water; pat dry and set aside.
• During the time it takes to cook the barley, peel, halve and seed the cucumbers and cut them into 1/2 inch half moons. Halve and seed the zucchini and yellow squash, cut them into 1/2 inch half moons and parboil them for a minute, drain and pat dry.
• In the bottom of a mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise, vinegar and dill; season well with salt and pepper. To the dressing add the cooked barley, cucumbers and squash and toss well; adjust the seasoning.
• On the outside edge of a serving platter, make a ring of drained sliced pickled beets. Pile the barley salad in the middle and center some watercress leaves in the middle of the salad.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put squash pieces, skin sides down, on a lightly oiled rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Bake squashes until tender when pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven, and brush each slice with butter. Keep warm until serving.

WARM ACORN SQUASH AND BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• To make the glaze, bring ½ cup unsweetened pomegranate juice, ½ a cup of stock and 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until the glaze reduces in quantity by almost half and coats the back of a spoon. Set aside.
• Preheat the grill to medium high. Brush the squash rings lightly with olive oil and place on grill. Lower the lid and cook about 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove squash from grill, dip it into glaze, and place it back onto the grill to caramelize. Remove the rings when they are golden brown on the edges and soft to the touch. Do not over cook!
• Alternately, reserve 6 rings of the squash. Peel and dice the remaining squash and roast the rings and the pieces in a 375º F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, basting with a bit of the glaze after 15 minutes, till the squash is JUST tender.
• For the barley, bring remaining pomegranate juice, sugar, and stock to a boil. Stir in the barley. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until barley is tender (about 40 minutes, or as stated on package directions).
• Peel skins from 4 rounds of squash. Dice and add to barley. (Or, add the diced roasted pieces to the barley) Toss with the orange zest and currants or cranberries, and a bit of the remaining glaze.
• To serve, arrange remaining squash rings onto plates, scoop warm barley salad onto rings. Garnish with toasted macadamia nuts, chives, and cracked pepper, and a drizzle of fruity olive oil, if desired.