Lemon Grain Salad with Kale Pesto
With so much flavor, you won’t even realize you’re eating healthy grains.

Ingredients
- 160 g (1 cup) pearl barley, uncooked
- (2 Tablespoons) pine nuts, toasted
- 120 ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil
- 70 g (½ cup) dried currants
- 40 g (2 ) small shallots, peeled, chopped
- 180 g (6 cups) kale, stemmed, roughly chopped, packed
- (1 Tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
- (½ teaspoon) kosher salt, optional
- (¼ teaspoon) ground black pepper
Directions
- Cook barley according to package directions. Allow to cool.
- In a medium skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the currants and shallot and cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes or until the shallot is golden, stirring often. Add the barely and add the pine nuts.
- Place kale, lemon juice and remaining olive oil into the Vitamix container and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed.
- Blend for 30 seconds, using the tamper as necessary to press the ingredients toward the blades. Toss with the barley mixture and serve.
Ingredients
- 160 g (1 cup) pearl barley, uncooked
- (2 Tablespoons) pine nuts, toasted
- 120 ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil
- 70 g (½ cup) dried currants
- 40 g (2 ) small shallots, peeled, chopped
- 180 g (6 cups) kale, stemmed, roughly chopped, packed
- (1 Tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
- (½ teaspoon) kosher salt, optional
- (¼ teaspoon) ground black pepper
Directions
- Cook barley according to package directions. Allow to cool.
- In a medium skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the currants and shallot and cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes or until the shallot is golden, stirring often. Add the barely and add the pine nuts.
- Place kale, lemon juice and remaining olive oil into the Vitamix container and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed.
- Blend for 30 seconds, using the tamper as necessary to press the ingredients toward the blades. Toss with the barley mixture and serve.
Ingredients
- 160 g (1 cup) pearl barley, uncooked
- (2 Tablespoons) pine nuts, toasted
- 120 ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil
- 70 g (½ cup) dried currants
- 40 g (2 ) small shallots, peeled, chopped
- 180 g (6 cups) kale, stemmed, roughly chopped, packed
- (1 Tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
- (½ teaspoon) kosher salt, optional
- (¼ teaspoon) ground black pepper
Directions
- Cook barley according to package directions. Allow to cool.
- In a medium skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the currants and shallot and cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes or until the shallot is golden, stirring often. Add the barely and add the pine nuts.
- Place kale, lemon juice and remaining olive oil into the Vitamix container and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed.
- Blend for 30 seconds, using the tamper as necessary to press the ingredients toward the blades. Toss with the barley mixture and serve.