• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Work With Me

The Cook Report logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • About
    • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    13/08/2018 Dinner Recipes

    Summer Pearl Barley Salad with Feta

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This summer pearl barley salad is bursting with fresh ingredients including cherry tomatoes and cucumber all topped off with a zingy lemon and mint dressing. 

    This has officially been the summer of salads. I've been trying to eat a little healthier and have discovered some truly amazing salads in the process.

    This sweet potato & quinoa salad and this caprese pasta salad have become regulars in our house and now I'm ready to add this simple pearl barley summer salad to that list.

    Click here to pin this recipe for later!

    Overhead shot of summer salad with pearl barley on a white wooden background

    Half way through August already. This summer felt like it was just meandering along at a leisurely pace and then next thing I know it's August and I'm kicking off content planning and recipe development for Autumn 😱

    I am really excited for some of the things I've got coming up though. I am going to be going HARD on all your Autumn classic ingredients, think beetroot and butternut squash galore. Plus plenty of soups, stews and generally carbs. You know how I do.

    Ingredients for summer salad with pearl barley on a white wooden background

    Overhead shot of ingredients for summer salad with pearl barley

    Still, while the sun continues to shine I'm still going to be eating my fair share of healthy salads like this one. In fact, to me, this is the perfect summer salad.

    It features some of my all time favourite summer ingredients and then has the most amazing lemon and mint dressing. Mint is my summer herb of choice EVERY. TIME.

    Why we love this pearl barley salad:

    • It needs just a handful of fresh ingredients to make 
    • It can be made ahead of time and is great for taking along to summer gatherings and barbecues or just for a light summer lunch or dinner
    • It's vegetarian and full of healthy ingredients all dressed in a bright and zesty dressing

    Hand holding a bowl of summer salad with pearl barley

    INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS SUMMER SALAD WITH PEARL BARLEY & FETA:

    • Pearl Barley - Just follow the cooking instructions on the packet. Use leftovers in this one pot cheesy pearl barley
    • Cucumber - Use any extra in the sesame cucumber on the side of these mushroom bao
    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Crumbled Feta - If you love it as much as I do, make sure you try this baked feta too
    • Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Olive Oil
    • Lemon
    • Garlic
    • Parsley
    • Mint

    Keep scrolling to get the full recipe for this summer salad with pearl barley...

    Bowl of sliced cucumber and tomato for summer salad on a white wooden background

    Dressing pouring on to summer salad in a large bowl

    So I use pearl barley in this salad because I think it works so well with all the other ingredients. It's a great carrier of flavour which makes it perfect for a tangy dressing like the lemon and mint one in this salad.

    It also has that amazing chewy texture which makes it super filling and I especially love it as a contrast to the feta and the crunchy vegetables. However, if you'd rather use a different grain or even pasta I won't judge you.

    You can follow the instructions on the packet for how to cook your pearl barley or use this guide which is how I do it.

    How to cook pearl barley on the stovetop:

    Simply add the pearl barley to a saucepan with a lid along with 700ml/3 cups stock and a little salt and pepper. Stir then bring to the boil and simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure it doesn’t get too dry and add more stock if necessary. When it’s finished cooking and absorbed all the liquid simply fluff with a fork and serve.

    Overhead shot of summer salad with pearl barley ingredients

    Summer salad with pearl barley in a bowl with a spoon

    The other important thing about this super simple summer salad is the sun dried tomatoes. Please don't leave them out. They have such a perfect flavour and that tanginess contrasts so well with the freshness of the cucumber and tomato.

    Will has an aversion to sun dried tomatoes which is probably the most disappointing thing about our relationship but I add them to things occasionally anyway (see this pressure cooker chicken casserole and this creamy chicken pasta) because i love them so much and he normally puts up with it pretty well.

    Bowl of summer salad with pearl barley with a spoon

    HOW TO MAKE SUMMER PEARL BARLEY SALAD WITH FETA (STEP BY STEP):

    1. Cook the pearl barley according to packet instructions, drain and rinse with cold water.
    2. Place all the dressing ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth.
    3. Add the pearl barley, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta, sun dried tomatoes and dressing to a bowl and toss together then serve.

    Equipment you need to make this recipe...

    [amazon_link asins='B077SRHSSJ,B003ASATPA,B0000C6WPC' template='ProductCarousel' store='thecoorep-21' marketplace='UK' link_id='c0ebe828-9f3c-11e8-ac77-2139130aff01']

    Keep scrolling to get the full printable recipe!

    Bowl of summer salad with pearl barley on a striped cloth

    What can be used as a substitute for pearl barley?

    If you're not a fan of pearl barley or can't get hold of it then this recipe would work really well with cooked pasta or even another grain like quinoa.

    Want more? Try these other summer salad recipes!

    • Pearl Couscous with Roasted Vegetables
    • Caprese Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing
    • Chicken and Mango Salsa Bowls
    • Simple Pasta Salad with Balsamic
    • Charred Corn Slaw
    • Smoky Aubergine Salad with Red Pepper
    • Roast Vegetable Salad with Halloumi
    • Vegan Pasta Salad with Creamy Tahini Sauce
    Summer salad with pearl barley in a bowl with a spoon

    Summer Salad with Pearl Barley & Feta

    This summer salad is bursting with fresh ingredients including cherry tomatoes and cucumber all topped off with a zingy lemon and mint dressing. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 428kcal
    Author: Amy Fulwood

    Ingredients

    • 300 g Pearl Barley cooked according to packet instructions
    • ½ Cucumber chopped
    • 200 g Cherry Tomatoes halved or quartered
    • 200 g Feta crumbled
    • 8 Sun Dried Tomatoes chopped

    For the Dressing

    • 6 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 Lemon juiced
    • 1 clove Garlic crushed
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Bunch Parsley
    • Bunch Mint Leaves
    UK Measures - US Measures

    Instructions

    • Place all of the dressing ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth.
    • Toss together all the salad ingredients with the dressing and serve.
    Nutrition Facts
    Summer Salad with Pearl Barley & Feta
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 428 Calories from Fat 99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11g17%
    Saturated Fat 7g35%
    Cholesterol 44mg15%
    Sodium 581mg24%
    Potassium 575mg16%
    Carbohydrates 68g23%
    Fiber 13g52%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 535IU11%
    Vitamin C 28.7mg35%
    Calcium 290mg29%
    Iron 3.2mg18%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @amycookreport on Instagram and hashtag it #thecookreport!

    Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!

    Pinterest image of summer salad with text overlay

    « Vegan Pressure Cooker Coconut Curry with Sweet Potato
    Veggie Burger with Quinoa & Cannellini Beans »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      August 14, 2018 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this really is the ultimate summer salad! Can't wait to try it!!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks Chris!

        Reply
    2. Natalie says

      August 14, 2018 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      This salad looks so delicious and would make such a great dinner or lunch - healthy and easy to make!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2018 at 12:45 pm

        Thank you Natalie 🙂

        Reply
    3. Shinta Simon says

      August 14, 2018 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      I've been enjoying this summer, and reading such great ideas for summer salads. This one sounds so fresh and looks perfect! I'm yet to cook with pearl barley, should give it a go soon.

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks Shinta!

        Reply
    4. Lisa says

      August 14, 2018 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      What a wonderful salad for sharing at a summer picnic!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks Lisa 🙂

        Reply
    5. Shashi at SavorySpin says

      August 14, 2018 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      Delicious, easy and oh so satisfying! The perfect salad to enjoy for the rest of this summer!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks Shashi!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Amy in a red jumper wearing glasses

    Hello! I’m Amy Fulwood. Recipe creator and photographer here at TheCookReport.co.uk.

    Over here we’re all about delicious healthy recipes to fit around busy schedules and celebrating the joy that comes from an amazing meal.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Roasted Vegetable Lasagne
    • 15 Minute Spicy Salmon Linguine
    • Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
    • 15 Minute Salmon Pasta with Broccoli

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About The Cook Report
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2022 The Cook Report on the Brunch Pro Theme