Grain salads just seem so perfect to us right now. They're economical to make and satisfying to eat. Plus, we can make a big batch and eat the leftovers all week long. Which means less time heating up our kitchen and more time relaxing during these long summer evenings. Anyone else with grains on the brain out there?
Craving: Summery Grain Salads
One of the things we love about grains is how versatile they are. Sautéing the grains in a little olive oil and onion before cooking gives the grains a nice toasted flavor. Most grains take on flavors very well, so even simply adding a bay leaf or some lemon zest while cooking can add new flavors. Tossing the grain with a little olive oil after cooking also adds flavor and keeps them from becoming sticky.
Then we can pair grains with almost anything. One of our favorites is simply mixing in some dried fruits and nuts. The leftover bits from last night's barbecue also frequently find their way into lunchtime grain salads, along with any other fresh veggies we have in the fridge.
Here are a few of our favorite recipes for inspiration:
• Meyer Lemon Grain Salad with Asparagus, Almonds, and Goat Cheese
• Reverse Tabbouleh
• Golden Beet and Barley Salad with Swiss Chard
• Wheat Berry Salad with Blood Oranges, Feta, and Red Onion Vinaigrette
Have you made a good grain salad recently? Please share!
Related: Salad For Dinner: 7 Additions to Make it Filling
(Image: Faith Durand for the Kitchn)
Tags
Noodles, Pasta and Grains, Recipe Roundup, salad, picnic, grain saladRelated Links
- Good Product: Fregola
- Red Rice, Licorice Chocolate, and Violet Mustard: Zingerman's Great Unknowns
- Recipe Inspiration: Pearl (Israeli) Couscous Salads
- Perfectly Cooked Beans: Leave the Cover On or Off?
- Trader Joe's Pantry: Greenwheat Freekeh
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We've been trying to make one dinner a week a grain based dinner for those exact reasons above: economical and light and healthy when the last thing anyone wants is a heavy meal and I love the idea of leftovers that I can take to lunch the rest of the week.
view rosebud's profile
Yes! I make a grain salad that's inspired by one of Heidi's recipes from 101cookbooks.com. I sauté yellow onion, add a can of chickpeas and cook some more, then add some asparagus (sliced into 1/8" diagonal pieces). I then add some brown rice, and dress it with a light mixture of tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice. I pan fry it all together for a few more minutes and then top with toasted almond slivers and lemon zest. It is my favorite summertime comfort food.
view fizzyizzy's profile
I love grain salads. I make a quinoa salad quite often, and smitten kitchen has a fantastic barley salad. Another favorite is brown rice, shrimp, orange supremes, and avocado.
view meleyna's profile
Quinoa salad or Israeli couscous are the best IMO. I love doing them with very fresh diced summer squash or tossing in a little tofu for extra protein. To dress them up as a salad course for dinner parties, parboil yellow or orange bell peppers, slice the tops off & seed/devein, then fill with grain salad & replace the tops for serving. Precious and delicious. Plus the parboil makes the peppers just soft enough so they're a pleasure to eat with the salad.
view bungalowbride's profile
Farro, cooked and cooled, with olive oil, lemon juice, and whatever else you want to put in.
view manjar's profile
I love this one from Martha Stewart, Orzo with Chicken, Corn & Green Beans. Simple, but so delicious and perfect for taking advantage of the seasonal produce.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/orzo-with-chicken-corn-and-green-beans?lnc=bd27cafb74ece010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=photogallery_special-recipe-collections_food_special-recipe-collections
view whatwouldruthdo's profile
I recently made a cold salad with farro. It is super good! I combine olives, artichoke hearts, cucumber, mini tomatoes, red peppers and shredded roasted chicken. I make a dressing with olive oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. Tasty and healthy!
view wabadee1's profile
My friend from Kansas makes a wheat berry salad that will make you weep for joy. This reminds me that I need to find some wheat berries.
view SunnyBlue's profile