For the primary recipe of the yr I need to share with you a scrumptious heat barley and roasted squash winter salad. This dish combines a hearty grain–pearl barley–with oven-roasted squash, caramelized onion wedges, tangy Greek Feta cheese, and a easy pomegranate dressing. This colourful and wholesome salad is a superb mixture of textures and flavors!
Hearty and substantial by itself as a vegetarian dish, this heat winter salad additionally pairs so effectively with any grilled or roasted meat. Nearly all substances are interchangeable and every one can simply be substituted with what you may need available, which makes this dish very versatile!
The Mediterranean Eating regimen was voted #1 Finest Eating regimen, once more!
In different information, it was not a shock that the Mediterranean Eating regimen was voted (for the eighth consecutive yr), the #1 Finest Eating regimen by “US Information and World Report” journal! For a collection of years now, well being specialists agree on science-based proof {that a} Mediterranean weight-reduction plan, with it give attention to greens, legumes and wholesome fat, is the perfect and most sustainable weight-reduction plan for total wellness, coronary heart well being and longevity. It’s truly extra of a way of life reasonably than a weight-reduction plan, and is straightforward to observe and simple to stay with as a result of, whereas it doesn’t exclude any meals group, it does incorporate them moderately!
I shared some extra details about the Mediterranean weight-reduction plan in a earlier submit, a few years in the past!
Substances for the Heat Barley with Roasted Squash Winter Salad
- Pearled Barley: the bottom of this dish; you possibly can substitute with farro or brown rice
- Delicata Squash: minimize into 1/2″ slices; you can even use some other winter squash, akin to butternut
- Pink onion: minimize into wedges, roasted till caramelized; any sort of onion will do
- Feta Cheese: provides a pleasant salty, tangly taste; you possibly can substitute with goat cheese
- Pomegranate Seeds: crunchy and juicy, they add a burst of taste and a really good texture
- Further Virgin Olive Oil: to roast the squash and to make the dressing
- Pomegranate Molasses: provides an earthy complexity and sweetness to the dish; you possibly can substitute with balsamic vinegar as an alternative
- Seasoning: sea salt and freshly floor black pepper; that’s it!
- Non-compulsory: pistachio nuts for additional crunch
How one can Prepare dinner Barley
Barley, a staple in lots of Mediterranean cuisines, has a pleasant, chewy texture and nutty taste. It’s simple to cook dinner, by utilizing the ratio of 1 cup of barley to three cups of water. Rinse the barley effectively after which add it to a pot of salty, boiling water. We decrease the warmth, cowl the pot and simmer the barley for about half an hour, till it’s tender, however nonetheless has an al dente texture. When prepared, fluff it up with a fork and toss with the dressing whereas it’s nonetheless heat.
How one can Put together and Roast a Delicata Squash
Roasting a delicata squash caramelizes it and makes it good and candy: slice it in half, lengthwise, take away the seeds, minimize every half into slices, toss with olive oil, salt and black pepper after which roast till tender and caramelized. The pores and skin of the delicata squash, because the title implies, could be very delicate (in addition to being full of fantastic dietary fiber) and is completely good to eat. No peeling is required!
How one can Serve it and Prepping Forward
You possibly can serve this Heat Barley with Roasted Squash Winter Salad by itself for a pleasant lunch, or, serve it as a facet dish subsequent to your favourite protein. The essential elements of the dish (the barley and the squash) will be ready forward of time (even the day earlier than) and you may assemble the salad once you want it.
I hope you get to do this salad a while, as it’s not solely scrumptious and bursting with taste, but additionally it is filled with wholesome vitamins and so good for you!
Heat Barley with Roasted Squash Winter Salad
A colourful, scrumptious, coronary heart warming winter salad, with barley, roasted delicata squash, caramelized onions, Feta cheese, pomegranate seeds and pistachio nuts!
Writer: Marilena Leavitt
Recipe kind: Winter Salad/Aspect Dish
Delicacies: Mediterranean
Serves: 3
Substances
- ¾ cup Pearl Barley
- 1 Delicata squash, minimize in half lengthwise, seeded and sliced
- 1 medium purple onion, minimize into wedges
- — additional virgin olive oil (for the greens)
- — sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
- For the dressing:
- 4-5 TBSP. additional virgin olive oil
- 2 TBSP. pomegranate molasses (if you happen to can’t discover this, you possibly can substitute with an equal quantity of balsamic vinegar)
- — sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
- For topping:
- ½ cup Greek Feta cheese, crumbled or cubed
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 TBSP. pistachios (elective), shelled
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 levels Fahrenheit.
- Prepare dinner the barley based on the package deal directions. Take away the pot from the warmth, drain the barley effectively, and toss it with the dressing whereas it’s nonetheless heat. Style and alter the seasoning.
- Whereas the barley is cooking, you possibly can put together and roast the greens. Slice the delicata squash lengthwise, take away the seeds, and minimize it into ½” slices. Place on a big baking sheet. Peel the purple onion, minimize it into wedges, and place on the baking sheet with the sliced squash. Season the squash and onion generously with sea salt and freshly floor black pepper, drizzle with loads of additional virgin olive oil, and toss. Make sure that the squash and onions are unfold evenly on the baking sheet and roast for about 25-Half-hour, turning as soon as half approach, till they’re properly caramelized (they need to be prepared about the identical time that the barley is cooked).
- On a warmed platter, unfold the nonetheless heat barley and the roasted squash and onion wedges. High with the pomegranate seeds, the Feta cheese, and the pistachio nuts, if utilizing. Drizzle the whole salad with some extra additional virgin olive oil and serve heat or at room temperature.
Notes
Leftovers of this salad will maintain effectively within the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, heat gently and serve with extra Greek Feta and a drizzle of your finest additional virgin olive oil.
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