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Power Grain Salad

This salad is nutritious & bursting with flavour. It is sure to become a regular on your dinner table or included in your picnic basket.

It was my job to bring a salad this year (2019) to Christmas lunch. Armed with a heap of recipe books my brother had given me this year for my birthday I found this little gem. It was a big hit with everyone.

It stayed good for 3 days. Well, that is how long the leftovers lasted anyway.

Power Grain Salad
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Power Grain Salad

This tasty salad will not disappoint. With barley as the main ingredient, you will enjoy the chewy, mild nutty flavour then the sweetness of apples, dates & crunchy celery will hit you.

Course Salad
Keyword gains, healthy dinner, healthy lunch, salad
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups Pearl barley or farro perlato
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 cup pitted dates, chopped small
  • 1 red onion, peeled & finely chopped
  • 1.5 cups small-diced celery
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh finely cut coriander leaves
  • 1 red apple, cored & UNPEELED, cut into small dice
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup unblanched, roasted almonds
  • 1 - 1.5 cups baby spinach & or rocket OPTIONAL EXTRA

DRESSING

  • 6 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup plain unsweetened Greek-style yoghurt
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled & finely chopped
  • 2 - 3 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chilli sauce to taste OPTIONAL - or sweet chilli sauce

Instructions

  1. Cook the barley in salted boiling water with the turmeric, uncovered for 20 - 25 minutes or until soft by still a little chewy. Drain, rinse under cold water & drain again. Set aside. (this could be done the day before and kept in the fridge until required)

  2. Prepare the dates, onion, celery coriander & apple & combine with the cooked drained barley in a large bowl.

  3. Combine the dressing ingredients thoroughly and stir into the salad. Cover & refrigerate if not required immediately - this salad benefits from allowing the flavours to meld.

  4. Bring to room temperature, toss & garnish with roasted almonds. At this point also add the salad greens (spinach/rocket for example) if using.