Zesty Mediterranean Barley Salad

Bursting with vibrant colors and bold flavors, Zesty Mediterranean Barley Salad is the perfect wholesome dish to elevate your mealtime routine. This nutrient-packed salad features tender pearl barley as the hearty base, paired with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell pepper, and tangy red onion. Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese add a savory Mediterranean flair, while fresh parsley and mint infuse every bite with herbaceous freshness. Tossed in a zesty lemon-garlic olive oil dressing and chilled to perfection, this salad is a refreshing, make-ahead option for picnics, potlucks, or weekday lunches. Simple, healthy, and utterly delicious, this Mediterranean-inspired recipe promises to be a crowd-pleaser!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup pearl barley
• 3 cups water
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 small red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup kalamata olives
• 0.5 cup feta cheese
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup fresh mint
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the barley under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil. Add the pearl barley, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 25 minutes or until tender. Drain any excess water and let the barley cool to room temperature.

Step 2

Meanwhile, dice the cucumber, slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the red bell pepper, finely chop the red onion, and slice the kalamata olives.

Step 3

Gently crumble the feta cheese, and finely chop the fresh parsley and mint leaves.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled barley, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, feta cheese, parsley, and mint.

Step 5

For the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and black pepper until emulsified.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the barley mixture and gently toss to combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Step 7

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1735.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1726.0

Total Fat 91.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 21.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.5g
Cholesterol 66.8mg	0%
Sodium 3536.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 197.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.8g	0%
Total Sugars 16.5g
Protein 36.0g	0%

Vitamin D 12IU	0%
Calcium 703.4mg	0%
Iron 12.6mg	0%
Potassium 1783.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 46.9%

Protein: 8.2%

Carbs: 44.9%