Summertime is for salads, and we just love everything about it! Any excuse to chow down on a refreshing, crunchy munch like this Barley Salad makes us all the more excited for the fun and freedom the season brings. Whether you’re basking in the sun right now, or simply longing to, this big bowl of fluffy barley tossed with summer-fresh veggies, creamy feta cheese, and your favorite Greek dressing is sure to make all your winter blues melt away. Let the sunshine in (actually or metaphorically), grab a fork, and soak up every ounce of warm weather flavor Barley Salad has to offer!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumbers, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/3 cup kalamata olives or black olives
- 1 cup Greek salad dressing or Italian dressing
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- fresh parsley, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot of salted boiling water, add the barley.
Step 2 –Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook the barley until it is tender, about 25 minutes.
Step 3 –Drain all of the liquid from the pot and allow the barley to cool completely.
Step 4 –In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, the cucumbers, the bell pepper, the red onion, and the olives together.
Step 5 –Add the cooled barley and the dressing to the salad and toss well to combine.
Step 6 –Sprinkle the salad with the feta cheese and garnish with the parsley.
Step 7 –Refrigerate the salad for 1 hour.
Step 8 –Serve.
