Warm Barley Salad with Peaches

Meal Course

Dinner
Lunch

ic_fluent_food_24_regular Created with Sketch. Dietary Preferences

Vegetarian

Recipe Type:

Salad

Peaches will forever and always be my favorite summer fruit.

There is nothing in my mind better than a fully ripe peach. Swoon.

And yes, I know summer is over for most of us. The last peaches may be heading out until next year. But I couldn’t wait to give you this recipe I created with the last of our summer peaches this year!

If ripe peaches aren’t available to you (insert sad face) you can substitute any stone fruit! Nectarines, plums and even cherries would be great variations here.

So you have no excuse! You have to make this salad ASAP.

Let’s talk about the other star of the show that doesn’t get as much attention as it should – barley.

Barley is one of my absolute favorite grains and I love using it here!

Some things about barley:

  • It has a wonderful chewy texture that stands up so well in salads
  • It does have gluten so anyone with gluten sensitivity will want to be aware of this (it is processed less than wheat so it maintains more fiber and nutrients than wheat itself)
  • It cooks in less than ten minutes once you add it to boiling water
  • It has soluble and insoluble fiber, can help lower cholesterol and is high in magnesium

You can substitute any grain you like here, but I highly encourage you to try barley if you haven’t before!

Once you have all your ingredients ready, all you have to do is assemble! This is a salad that is best made fresh. I wouldn’t recommend mixing it ahead of time as the peaches can brown and the spinach can wilt. If you want to meal prep a little you can cook the barley and mix it with the dressing the day before and then assemble the rest before eating.

For a more hearty meal feel free to add any protein such as chicken or salmon!

Enjoy!

Warm Barley Salad With Peaches

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup barley mixture
  • 1/2 sliced peach
  • 1/2 sliced avocado
  • 2 tbsp pistachios
  • 1-2 cups spinach

Barley Mixture (this will serve four salads)

  • 2 cups cooked barley
  • juice of half lemon
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook barley as directed
  • Shake all dressing ingredients together until well blended
  • Mix dressing with barley
  • Assemble salad and enjoy!