Bits of juicy orange, flecks of mint leaves, and slivers of refreshingly crisp, sweet fennel make this a grain salad to remember.
Allow extra time to prepare and cool the barley if you are making this recipe from start to finish in one day.
Chef's notes
Suggested adult serving: 3¾ cups
Store any leftover salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
RECIPE TIPS
Barley: Pearled barley is hulled barley that has been polished, or “pearled”—which means that most of the bran layer has been removed. Pearled barley cooks more quickly than hulled barley, but opt for quick-cooking (parboiled barley) if you're really short on time.
Fennel Bulb: Fennel is a bulbous vegetable topped with green fronds that resemble dill. The bulb is firm, crunchy, and tastes faintly of licorice. Fennel can be thinly sliced for a salad or halved and grilled until tender.
Toasted Pine Nuts: You can purchase pre-toasted pine nuts, or you can toast them yourself: Simply cook in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Steps
1
Prepare Salad Fixings
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD
1 cup barley rinsed & drained (≈2 1⁄4 cups cooked)
PREPARE GRAINS
Prepare barley according to package instructions. Let cool, then fluff barley with a fork.
MAKE SALAD
In a large bowl, toss spinach, barley, fennel, cherry tomatoes, and oranges.
MAKE DRESSING
In a small bowl, whisk orange juice, white wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Stir in mint.
SERVE
Add dressing to salad and toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with pine nuts to serve.
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