Barley & Edamame Salad

You can use almost any vegetable in this versatile salad. Try adding diced cucumber, zucchini, or halved cherry tomatoes if you have them on hand. Most quick-cooking barley will be pearled, which means it’s not a whole grain. It’s still delicious and nutritious, but if you’d rather go with whole-grain barley, the cook time will increase to about 1 hour. Add a sprinkle of sesame seeds or chopped peanuts or cashews for a bit of nutty crunch or a few chilled cooked shrimp or thin slices of cooked chicken breast, if you'd like. The dressing can also be used as a delicious marinade for grilled meats or as a savory sauce for tossing with steamed vegetables.