Barley Blueberry and Blue Cheese Bowl
This whole grain bowl is full of healthy fruits and vegetables, just the right thing to fill you up, now weigh you down!
Well I haven’t really advertised it, but since the beginning of the year I’ve been on a “clean eating” kick. I completely cut out sugar, and any form of bread for a month. Which was torturous until I started seeing the numbers on the scale decrease, that made it much easier. I have been a little less strict about the sugar, but I have continued to leave the bread alone. Substituting whole grains such as barley, farro, and quinoa into my diet whenever possible.
I know if you know me, this will be like WOW, Sheila’s not eating bread?? WOW! WOWwow! I know, believe me I love bread! Bring on the bread! When I was a kid, I would take white bread, peel off the crust and ball up the centers and eat the balled up wonder bread like candy. Heavens to Betsy!!! Who lets their kid do such nonsense??!! LOL! Love you mom 😉 whom am I kidding I’ve been known to do this as an adult!
I have not made my family abstain from baked goods, or bread, I’m still baking for them I’m just not eating it, and if I do I only allow myself 1 cookie, not 5 or half a muffin not 3 muffins. So what have I been eating? More fruits, vegetables, dairy such as plain greek yogurt, hard cheeses, cottage cheese, whole grains such as barley, farro, quinoa, more beans, lots of chicken breasts, turkey burgers, and eggs. My new eating regimen really hasn’t been bad. I just need to keep good things on hand so I don’t start eating balled up white bread.
Barley is something I normal think of putting in soup, but its super good on its own, or like this mixed with fruits, vegetables, and cheese for a wonderful salad!
I love cheese! You’ve probably heard me say, “there isn’t a cheese I’ve met that I don’t like!”. Cheese, cheese bring on the cheese! Blue cheese is in my top three favorite cheeses! It’s creamy sharp flavor pairs well in this salad with the sweetness of the fruit, and earthy flavor of the barley.
Blueberry, Barley, and Blue Cheese salad is great on its own or if you want to add some protein, such as chicken, pork loin, sliced up boiled eggs, or even beans such as garbanzo would be excellent! Get creative!
Did you make any dietary changes for 2016? How’s that going? I hope you give this salad a try, it’s a new favorite for me! It packs up great for lunches, because its good cold or room temp, there is nothing in it that will spoil if left unrefrigerated for a few hours. Please take a moment and give it a rating below in the recipe card. Share and tag #eat2gather on your socials. Thanks for being here, XO Sheila
Barley Blueberry and Blue Cheese Bowl
Ingredients
salad
- 3 cups cooked barley, per package directions
- 1 1/2 cups blueberries, washed
- 2/3 cup blue cheese crumbles this can be optional if you prefer another cheese feel free to swap it in
- 1 apple, cut into cubes
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion about 4 green onions cleaned and sliced
dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 12/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook barley per package directions and let cook. This takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
dressing
- Add balsamic, oil, honey, salt and pepper together in a mason jar and shake until dressing comes together. You can also whip up in your blender. Or whisk together in a small measuring bowl.
salad prep
- Wash blueberries, core and chop apple into small cubes, chop spinach and onions.
- Combine dressing with barley, blueberries, blue cheese, spinach, apple, and green onion. Add more fresh cracked pepper to your liking, and of course more blue cheese if you like!
Notes
Disclaimer: I am proud to be an ambassador for the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. Thank you for helping support Eat2gather by supporting your local dairy farmers!
OMG, I have a work potluck coming up, so I was searching your website for fun ideas when I was reminded of this gem. This salad is SO good. There was a stretch of time that I made this salad week after week in my meal-prep. Now it’s gotten off my radar for some unknown, odd reason! Glad I found it again! I’m putting the ingredients on my grocery shopping list RIGHT now!
Not everyone likes fruit in their salad. So glad you do! Thanks for being here!
Yum! This sounds lush, I love the pairing of Blueberries and Blue Cheese! Good luck in your “clean” endeavor!
Thanks I need it!! Just spent the weekend away at a women’s retreat and my clean eating plan went right out the window!