This summer grain salad is full of fresh vegetables and herbs. Whole grains provide a satisfying, chewy texture to this salad, while the vegetables give it great crunch. It is dressed with an easy, flavorful red wine vinaigrette. This salad is naturally vegan, so it is perfect for those who eat a plant-based diet.
For ease of browsing, I’ve put of of my salad recipes in one place.
Perfect for summer picnics, beach days or weekday lunches, this healthy grain salad will leave you feeling satisfied.
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Summer Grain Salad
Hearty salads with healthy grains and vegetables fill you up and give you fuel for the day. This fresh and light salad is dressed with a simple vinaigrette and is naturally vegan.
Spring and summer see an abundance of fresh produce. This is a great way to get more vegetables into your diet, or to use what you might have growing in your garden.
Ingredients
You might have many of these things in your kitchen right now. You can always swap out ingredients for items you already have.
- Quinoa – Naturally gluten-free and a great source of protein.
- Barley – Great source of fiber and protein.
- Farro – Delicious, nutty flavor and chewy texture.
- Parsley – Flat leaf Italian parsley, it is the unsung hero of herbs.
- Chives – Mild onion flavor.
- Dill – You could substitute with fresh thyme, if you don’t like dill.
- Tomatoes – Use whatever tomatoes you like. I’m fortunate to grow most of mine, so that’s what I use.
- Carrots – I buy rainbow carrots to get more color into this summer grain salad.
- Cucumber – Hothouse or English cucumbers are my favorites.
- Bell peppers – Red, orange and/or yellow are perfect.
- Red wine vinegar – provides some zing to our salad.
- Olive oil – I really like this arbequina olive oil, but use what you like.
How to make it
First, cook the grains and set them aside to cool. They need to be completely cooled before adding to the vegetables and herbs, otherwise the herbs will wilt.
This can be done a day or two ahead of time. If you like to batch cook, you can cook all of the grains and store some in the freezer for later.
While the grains are cooking, chop the herbs and vegetables. Add them to a large mixing bowl, and set aside until you are ready to mix the salad.
When the grains have cooled, mix them with the vinaigrette, then gently fold in the vegetables and herbs until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
What you’ll need to make this recipe
First, you’ll need a large cutting board. I like to have plenty of room to work instead of trying to chop on a small surface.
Next, you’ll need a sharp knife. I love my Wüsthof Chef’s knife, it’s been my go-to knife for over 20 years.
You’ll also need a couple of good-sized mixing bowls, a pot or two to cook the grains, and a colander to drain them. Just the basics!
Tips and tricks for success
Absolutely. Swap out the barley and farro for gluten-free grains like quinoa and this summer salad is suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
Fully dressed, the salad will last 3 – 4 days. After that, the vegetables and herbs start to get soggy. To make it last longer, mix everything and leave it dry. Put into a container with a tight-fitting lid and toss with vinaigrette right before serving.
Try using thyme, either regular or lemon thyme, marjoram, mint or even tarragon. Each of these will bring a different flavor to your grain salad.
Yes! Here’s how I do it – Cook the grains the day before and let them chill in the fridge overnight. You can also grate the carrots, chop the peppers and cucumber ahead of time and store in airtight containers in the fridge.
Fresh herbs can be washed and dried (if needed), then chopped and stored in containers with a piece of paper towel to absorb any moisture.
When you’re ready to serve, all that is left to do is mix it all and finish any last minute chopping.
You can freeze the grains. Cook and freeze the grains, then portion them out and put in zip-top bags and stack in the freezer.
This makes it much easier to throw together a quick lunch for the next day, I just toss a bag from the freezer into the fridge before I go to bed.
The grains and vegetables change every so often, giving the salad plenty of variations. Try grains that are unfamiliar to you, you might just find your new favorite thing!
Grain salads for summer
- Mediterranean couscous salad
- Freekeh salad with fruits and nuts
- Mediterranean quinoa salad
- Mango lime quinoa with black beans
- Tabbouleh
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Summer Grain Salad
A satisfying and healthy grain salad, perfect for summer cookouts and healthy weekday lunches!
Ingredients
- 1 cup barley, cooked
- 1 cup farro, cooked
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked
- 1 1/2 cups English cucumber, diced
- 2 cups, grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1 cup rainbow carrots, shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1/8 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- zest and juice of 1 lemon, optional... for extra zing!
Instructions
- Cook grains according to package directions, set aside to cool completely. (Can be done ahead of time)
- In a small bowl: mix vinegar, oil, salt & pepper together and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix grains with vinaigrette until thoroughly combined.
- Fold in vegetables and herbs until evenly distributed.
Notes
While your grains are cooking, chop up the veggies and herbs. As they are cooking and cooling, you are getting all the vegetables prepped and ready to toss in.
Use what you have. Freekeh, brown rice, wheatberries, and amaranth are all great options.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 205mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂
Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!
Originally published 5/29/16, most recent update 4/28/22.
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