Barley Salad

This is a great summer salad that can be eaten warm or cold. It is great alongside roast chicken or tempeh for dinner and leftovers are great the next day packed for lunch with cooked white or garbanzo beans and a green salad. Delicious on top of arugula!

We love Four Star Farms grains! They are grown, sustainably, right here in Western Massachusetts.  Their flours are ground in small batches to retain nutrients and flavor. Learn more about their farm and growing practices at http://fourstarfarms.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups raw barley

1/4 cup chopped, dried apricots (dried cranberries, cherries, golden raisins or currants are also great)

3 scallions, chopped fine

1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

salt to taste

4 - 6 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed juice with the zest is best, but great with bottled juice too)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cardamom

1 tsp ground ginger 

1/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)

scant 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

Put barley in small pot with scant 3 cups of water. Cover and bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer until barley is soft, approximately 45 minutes. If you want the grains less sticky, rinse in cold water, but they are delicious as is. 

Whisk lemon juice, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cayenne and olive oil. Salt to taste. 

Mix barley with dressing, cilantro and scallions. Reserve a few scallions and cilantro to sprinkle on the top before serving.