It is a universal truth that fiber is a big part of a balanced diet, but is also an often forgotten fact due to all the importance protein gets. That's precisely the focus for today's recipe...Instant Pot Barley Salad.
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This healthy, wholesome Instant Pot Barley Salad is packed with flavor from lime and garden-fresh parsley. What a great option for lunch, picnics, potluck parties, or a quick fix dinner!
Barley salad is a salad that can be served warm or at room temperature. It pairs very well with a side soup that fulfills the protein part of a balanced meal.
What makes it a quick fix dinner option is that cooking barley is made easy with the Instant Pot. Cooking barley grains on a stovetop can easily take more than 30-45 minutes by itself. The Instant Pot cuts that time by more than half.
How to cook barley in Instant pot?
Cooking barley always takes a long time and demands a lot of patience, and prep work ahead of time. If you are a fan of barley and its amazing benefits you will be amazed by how easy and efficient it is to cook them with the Instant Pot.
It cooks in 12 minutes under pressure with a natural pressure release method. You can serve this with freshly cooked kale or sauteed mushroom. maybe that will be your barley kale salad or barley mushroom salad.
This barley salad can be served in any season of the year. Add your favorite vegetables, toppings, vegan salad dressings and enjoy the meal.
Health benefits of barley
As the weather turns colder, adding some whole grains such as barley to your diet is a great idea to build some resistance to the cold from within. Barley's claim to nutritional fame is based on nutrients such as manganese, dietary fiber, and selenium, and magnesium among others. But barley does not necessarily come with any strong flavor. Hence the ingredients you add to it need to be carefully chosen to blend well barley grains.
About this Instant Pot barley salad
Selecting ingredients was a trial and error process, but I think I have a winning combination here. I have added toasted nuts like Cashews and Almonds along with lime juice and parsley.
The choice of nuts is really up to you, as long as you toast them golden brown. The other prime ingredient is garlic. Roasting garlic to a crunchy texture before adding the boiled barley grains makes a world of difference.
My family loved it including my kids. Serve it as a side with a hot soup or curry or make it the primary dish. I love this combo of barley salad recipe. You can also try adding different ingredients like mushrooms and kale. Make your own salad dressing and try this today!
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📖 Recipe
Barley Salad In Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup barley
- 2 ½ cup water
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon chopped parsley
- ¼ cup chopped cashews and almonds
- 10 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Wash the barley grains and put into the inner pot. Add water and stir well.
- Close the lid of the instant pot. Turn the steam release handle to “sealing” position and set 12 minutes of pressure cooking time.
- When time is up, open the lid using natural release. Place the barley in a big bowl and set it aside.
- Meanwhile, roast the nuts and garlic with coconut oil in a small pan.
- Add roasted cashews and almonds, salt, pepper, chopped parsley, lemon juice, roasted garlic to the cooked barley.
- Mix well and serve warm or cold. Barley salad is ready to enjoy!
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR LATER
Mayuri Patel
I love pot barley and unfortunately don't get it readily where I live. However, whenever I'm in Montreal or UK, I make full use of ingredients that I don't get. This salad is so refreshing, filling and simple to make.
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Mayuri! I am holding it whenever I get a good deal.
Kandy
Hi great looking recipe. Did you use pearled or hulled barley? This looks very refreshing.
Uma Raghupathi
Thank you Kandy!
I used Pearled barley. Hope you will make this recipe.