Grain salads are one of our favorite bridge dishes - spanning the shift from one season to another. They can easily be adapted with seasonal vegetables, and the range of textures and flavors is always appealing. Really - we like them not because they're practical and healthy (although they are) but because they're chewy, creamy, nutty, savory, spicy, and crisp.
Here are a few favorite grain salads and a guide to some of our favorite grains.
The key to a good grain salad is a mix of textures and ingredients. Just like with green salads, our rule of thumb is something crunchy, something soft, something tender, something savory, something sweet or sour, and something spicy.
Use your imagination - I'm sure you can improve on our recipes here with your own set of ingredients and local produce.
• Spelt - Spelt has a chewy, nutty texture and flavor. It's one of our favorite grains. It's easy to toast and simmer into a risotto-like dish. Use it in any of the recipes below.
• Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend - The star in this blend is the pearl couscous. The grains are nearly as large as tapioca and have a delicious chewiness. We also like the diversity in this blend - it takes the work out of mixing grains and finding other ways to improve texture!
• Farro - Similar to spelt, farro has a chewy texture and delicious nuttiness.
• Meyer Lemon Grain Salad with Asparagus, Almonds and Goat Cheese - We worked hard on the textures in this one: chewy grains, tender young asparagus, crunchy almonds, and creamy goat cheese. This got better (as grains salads usually do) as it aged. All of these store well and are great carry-overs for lunch and weeknight supper.
• Cous Cous Salad with Winter Squash and Cranberries - Squash is a good soft and creamy element for grain salads; it's almost like a dressing in itself.
• Roasted Beet Salad with Barley, Feta, and Red Onion - This is really a barley salad made bright and delicious with the feta (another great grain salad cheese) and sweet roasted beets.
• Wild Rice Salad with Roasted Green Beans and Dried Cranberries - Wild rice has a rich flavor unparalleled by regular rice. Here the dried cranberries and roasted green beans give it another kick of flavor.
• Spelt Farotto with Tuna and Artichokes - This is a hearty dish, best served warm or hot. It's chewy and full of flavor. The canned tuna and jarred artichokes also make this a good cupboard meal.
Have you made a grain salad lately? What are your favorite combinations of grain and ingredients?
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http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/WHEAT-BERRY-AND-BARLEY-SALAD-WITH-SMOKED-MOZZARELLA-12251
This wheat berry and barley salad with smoked mozzarella is one of my very favorite dishes ever. The wheat berries and barley is chewy and the smoked mozzarella infuses the entire salad with a lovely smokey flavor. I make it when going to a potluck or out camping with friends. The recipe, by the way, makes a HUGE amount.
view laetitiae's profile
http://spotonculinary.com/blog/2008/08/19/healthy-summer-salad-farro-with-purslane-fennel-and-tomatoes/
Here's a link to a farro salad I made- there's a recipe for it, too! I had mine cold, but it would be awesome hot, too!
view spotonmeg's profile
What about quinoa? It's one of the most complete grains (full of aminio acids) and tastes great...my fav. is tossed on a salad.
view mollymauf's profile
I have a quinoa salad--cool quinoa tossed with a tangy Dijon tarragon vinaigrette, big chunks of perfectly ripe avocado, and served over crunchy romaine. That's the basic. I tend to add whatever else I've got--roasted beets are a great addition.
view cmcinnyc's profile
Bulgur salad with blackeyed peas is incredibly good. Sauteed garlic and scallions, sliced jalapenos. Add walnuts and chopped basil and tomatoes at the end. Unbelievably flavorful, easy, and good hot, cold or in between.
view Flood's profile
Is bulgur wheat considered a grain? If so, one of my favorites is whipping up a batch of taboulleh that I can take to work with me throughout the week. Also a big favorite at my house is a couscous, tomato and mint salad. Laetitiae: my mom used to make a wheat berrry salad when I was younger that I completely forgot about until your comment. It was delicious and I'm calling her right now for her recipe.
view rosebud's profile