Kale and Barley Salad
The Moroccan-inspired, vegan kale and barley salad features raisins, pistachios and parsley paired with a tangy turmeric dressing.
This wonderful, hearty salad features kale, barley, bell pepper, raisins, pistachios and a tangy, creamy curry dressing. You’ll love the nutty, chewy barley paired with sweet raisins and crunchy pistachios!
Ingredient Notes
Here are a few notes about the main ingredients in this recipe:
- Barley. You’ll need 2.5-3 cups of cooked barley or 1 cup of uncooked barley. Pot or pearled barley are both suitable for this recipe.
- Kale. Any kind of kale works here, just be sure to wash it well, de-stem and finely chop. Choose organic kale when possible.
- Raisins. Raisins add a little sweetness that complements the other ingredients nicely. If you don’t have raisins on hand you can use dried cranberries or chopped dates.
- Pistachios. Look for raw pistachio kernels for this recipe. They should have no added oil or salt. If you can only find salted, that’s ok too. Dry-roasted and salted also works.
In addition, you’ll need some spices, lemon and apple cider vinegar for the dressing, as well as red bell pepper and parsley for the salad.
How to Make this Recipe
Start by blending the dressing. Next, prepare the kale by removing the leaves from the thick stems and finely chopping them. Add the kale to a large bowl with the dressing and mix until the kale is well-coated.
Quick Tip: Let the kale and dressing sit for a few minutes to allow the kale to soften a bit.
Next, add the rest of the ingredients, mix everything up and enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- The pistachios can be substituted with slivered almonds or pine nuts.
- The raisins can be substituted with chopped dates or cranberries.
What is barley?
Barley is a whole grain, much like farro or freekeh. Barley is a type of wheat so it is not gluten-free but it does offer many nutritional benefits.
If you’ve never cooked barley before, it’s no different than cooking grains like farro and brown rice. Barley can be cooked stovetop or in an Instant Pot and either way the process takes about 30-40 minutes.
Can I make this gluten-free?
This recipe can be made gluten-free by subbing the barley for a gluten-free whole grain of choice. I would suggest short-grain brown rice.
How should I store this?
This salad will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days but is best enjoyed fresh.
More Healthy Salad Recipes
Here are some more meal-sized salads you’ll love:
- Tuscan Kale Salad with Avocado
- Edamame Broccoli Wild Rice Salad
- Lentil Quinoa Bowl
- Vegan Lentil Kale Salad with Roasted Broccoli
- Quinoa Kale Salad with Roasted Vegetables
Did you try this recipe?
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I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review and be sure to tag me @runningonrealfood if you post it on social media.
Barley and Kale Moroccan Salad
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Morrocan
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This healthy barley and kale salad with Moroccan-inspired flavours is packed with nutrition and flavour!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pot or pearled barley, uncooked (about 3 cups cooked, for a gluten-free option, use brown rice or quinoa)
- 5 cups de-stemmed and finely chopped kale
- 1 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup pistachio kernels
For the Dressing
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- water, as needed to adjust consistency
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the barley according to package instructions.
- Add the kale, parsley and red pepper to a large bowl and mix well.
- Add the dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender and mix until smooth. Add a little water, 1-2 tbsp at a time to adjust the consistency. It should be creamy but pourable. Pour over the kale mixture, stirring until the kale is well coated. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the kale to soften a bit.
- Once the barley is cooked, drain any excess water and add to the rest of the ingredients.
- Fold in the raisins and pistachios.
- Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 17 g
- Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 11 g
Keywords: barley salad, kale barley salad
UPDATE NOTE: This recipe was originally published on June 2, 2015. It was updated in March 2020 with new photos and text.
Made this for the first time this weekend – it was a hit! Love the flavours – will be keeping this as a regular dish to make. Thank you!
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Yes, of course. Honest mistake, I’m so used to my recipes being gluten-free I didn’t even think about it! I fixed it and will have to round-up all the pins to edit those. Thanks.
I just discovered your blog through Kath’s blogging tips roundup, and I have to say your photos are GORGEOUS!! I’m excited to check out more of your content!
Awesome recipe! I love kale!