Six Vegetarian Barley Recipes

Squash & Barley Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette - BBC Good Food

I've been vegan for several years now and I was vegetarian before that but I still haven't tried cooking with barley. You think I would have mastered several stunning barley-bountiful dishes by now and yet I have not! I think these recipes will inspire me to start cooking with this 'low glycemic-index grain' that contains, 'calcium, phosphorus and B vitamins' (according to Dr Weil). I've got my eye on the salad above that is speckled with capers, olives, pumpkin seeds and basil.

Indian Winter Soup - BBC Good Food
It's summer here in New Zealand but I still want to make this with seasonal vegetables on the next blustery day.

Barley Soup with Greens, Fennel, Lemon and Dill - Epicurious
(Bon Appetit - Anna Thomas, photo by Stephen Lewis)
This can be easily veganised by omitting the feta.

Wild Rice and Barley Salad - Whole Foods Market
This salad looks easy to whip together and I like the inclusion of dried apricots and tarragon.

Barley with Apricots, Hazelnuts, Chocolate and Honey
- Whole Living
For a sweeter, vegan barley bite, switch milk to your favourite non-dairy kind and use a good quality dark chocolate (non-dairy).

Warm Barley Cereal with Dried Cherries - Whole Living
I've mentioned this one before but had to include it here. How could I not? There's almond milk and ground flax meal. I'd just use a more natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup along with any seasonal fruit.