The natural nutty flavor of purple barley accents dried cherries and toasted nuts for delicious, healthy vegan salad. I often eat this alone as a vegan lunch or serve as a cold side dish with grilled meats. It travels and stores particularly well so make a bunch and eat it all week long. It's also a great choice for a picnic in the park. This is one of my favorite things to take to the Hollywood Bowl to enjoy with a crisp white wine and some cold roast chicken.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Purple Barley (or another whole nutty grain like Emmer Farro)
1 Cup of Unsalted Hazelnuts, Walnuts and/or Pecans
1 Cup Assorted fresh or dried berries (black berries, dried cherries and pomegranate seeds are good choices)
Cook 2 cups of purple barley according to the directions and set aside to cool.
Place the nuts in a bowl, drizzle a small amount of hazelnut oil and toss to coat using as little oil as possible.
Spread the nuts in an even layer on the baking sheet.
Place in oven and roast for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Combine the hazelnut oil, elderberry balsamic and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl, season with a pinch of salt and a a few cranks of black pepper.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and lightly toss with the dressing. This can be stored for several days in the refrigerator, just fluff and sprinkle additional roast nuts on top before serving.
Caramelized onions, toasted cumin and a cinnamon stick add layers of flavor and complexity to something we normally view as just a carb canvas for other food. You'll never make basmati rice another way.
Our southwestern riff on the 3 sisters includes the True Red Cranberry Bean.This rare heirloom had been used by Abnaki Indians centuries ago but became extinct shortly thereafter. Thankfully seed savors revived it but now it is only grown by a handful of farmers.
