A tender whole grain salad like this one is such an inspiration– simply choose a favorite whole grain from the pantry (the recipe calls for pearled barley but I settled on freekeh instead) and mix it with a mixture of fragrant fresh herbs from the garden (fresh parsley, cilantro and mint to be exact), the golden punch of color and flavor that comes from both turmeric and cumin seeds, sweet dried dates, and a splash of fresh lemon juice for brightness.  Because any great salad needs a bit of crunch in my opinion, that is where the topping of crispy shallots comes in.  I can also see roasted pistachios or cashews working well for the crunchy component; two nut varieties that keep with the salad’s Middle Eastern inspiration.

(To view this recipe, click on the following link: http://www.marthastewart.com/1518257/herbed-barley-salad-dates)

Tagged: barley, barley salad, cilantro, crispy shallots, cumin, cumin seeds, dates, dried dates, fresh herbs, ground turmeric, herbed barley salad with dates, herbs, lemon juice, Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, MarthaStewart.com, Middle Eastern flavors, mint, parsley, pearled barley, Salad, turmeric, whole grains