Barley, Ham and Green Bean Salad
Cooking time: 20 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
Barley is a very versatile and healthy grain. It works as well as a base for a salad as pasta or rice. With only the barley requiring cooking this is a very easy summer salad.
Barley, Ham and Green Bean Salad
Total time: 20 minutes
Use quick-cooking pearl barley, which takes about 15 minutes. Cook in chicken stock for added flavor. I used the flat, Italian beans in this but any green or yellow bean will work.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) quick cooking barley
- 1 1/3 cup (11oz, 330ml) chicken stock
- 10oz (300gr) ham
- 8oz (240gr) green beans
- 1 avocado
- 1 tomato
- 2 tbs fresh, snipped chives
- Mustard Vinaigrette:
- 2 tbs whole grain mustard
- 2 tbs Greek or plain yogurt
- 1 tbs sherry vinegar
- 1/2 tbs soy sauce
- 2 tbs olive oil
Instructions:
- Put barley and chicken stock in a small saucepan.
- Cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes for quick cooking barley.
- Top and tail beans. Cut into 1 1/2" (4cm) lengths.
- Bring a medium saucepan half full of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add beans and blanch for 4 minutes.
- Remove, drain and refresh in cold water.
- Cut ham into bite-size pieces. Slice avocado and tomato. Snip chives.
- Make vinaigrette: Whisk all ingredients until well combined.
- To finish:
- Put barley into a large bowl.
- Add beans, ham, chives and half of the vinaigrette, Stir to combine.
- Divide and spoon onto 2 plates.
- Arrange half of the avocado and tomato on each plate, drizzle with a bit of vinaigrette and serve.
Cooking Schedule: 20 minutes
Assemble all ingredients and utensils
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
scissors, small bowl, whisk, small saucepan, lid,
medium saucepan, large bowl
Cook barley
Heat water for beans
Top, tail and cut beans
Pause while water heats
Blanch beans |
Remove beans, refresh in cold water
Slice ham
Slice tomato, avocado
Snip chives
Make vinaigrette
Pause while barley cooks
When barley is done, put into bowl
Add ham, beans, chives, vinaigrette; stir
Spoon onto plates, add tomato, avocado
Drizzle with vinaigrette;
Serve |