Two Bean and Barley Salad


This salad has everything that’s good for you, looks pretty, tastes good, must be made ahead, goes well with anything…perfect. My husband really liked it, as did I.
I used my home-canned black beans and some garden green beans.  I substituted sunflower seeds I buy in bulk for the pine nuts, which cost me 10 times as much here in the Midwest.  They added a perfect, slightly sweet crunch when stirred in right before serving.                   
                        Two Bean and Barley Salad
     ½    cup  Barley -- quick cooking
  1        Cup  Water -- for cooking barley
  3        tablespoons  Fresh Lemon Juice
     ½    tablespoon  Dijon Mustard
  5        tablespoons  Olive Oil
  1        pint  Black Beans, canned or cooked -- rinsed and drained
     ¾    cup  Red Onion -- finely chopped
     ½    pound  Green Beans -- trimmed
  4        tablespoons  Honey Roasted Sunflower Seeds
Cook the barley according to package directions; drain.  Combine the lemon juice, mustard, and olive oil with salt and pepper to  taste until oil is emulsified.
Combine the black beans, barley and onion, add the dressing and toss until well-combined.
Cook the green beans 4-5 minutes until just tender, drain well.  Cut into 1/4 inch pieces and add them to the salad and top each serving with sunflower seeds.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
4 main dish servings, 8 side salads
Adapted from "The Best of Gourmet 1992"

4 comments:

  1. Oh, that sounds good too! Too bad we can't use sunflower nuts with the recent recall. Or have they packaged new ones recently that are safe to eat?

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    Replies
    1. Well, my seeds were older...in light of the recall, I would use pine nuts. It's certainly very discouraging when food that is usually considered healthy has listeria!

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    2. Just this morning on the FDA web site they are still warning about sunflower seeds. The recall has been expanded it seems.
      I would use the Pine Nuts or maybe some chopped pecans or almonds.

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  2. It is so frustrating with all these foods being recalled for health reasons above & beyond allergy issues. Good idea to sub the pecans or almond bits. :-) I think if hubby doesn't like the barley cold, I'll make it for myself on his work days like I do my mini pizzas and black bean dishes. ;-)

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