Barley and Organic Caramelized Vegetable Salad

When I was in Mamavation Bootcamp 18, I discovered alternative grains like quinoa, amaranth, and barley. These grains are low-glycemic (which means it they won’t spike your blood sugar) and gluten free. I love to incorporate them into dishes for added whole grains, a unique texture, and a more filling meal. I did just that with my Barley and Organic Caramelized Vegetable Salad. The crisp organic spring greens, sweet caramelized organic vegetables, and vibrant, organic basil vinaigrette would make a fine salad on their own. The addition of barley gives you extra healthy carbs and a hearty bite.

My local grocery store sells barley in the bulk bins, which is a great money saver. It gives you the opportunity to try out something new without committing to a huge package before you’ve tasted it. I also saved money by creating my own organic dressing for the salad. It’s so simple to blend some ingredients together, there really is no need to spend the extra money on a bottled salad dressing. The total for this caramelized vegetable salad is $7.13 for 4 servings. If you’re doing the math, that’s about $1.78 per serving. I found all of the ingredients at Sprouts, and here is how it all breaks down for cost:

• $0.25 Barley from the bulk bin.
• $2.49 Earthbound Farms Organic Spring Mix.
• $1.50 Organic Red Bell Pepper.
• $0.28 Organic Yellow Onion.
• $1.99 Organic Fresh Basil.
• $0.10 Organic Olive Oil.
• $0.52 Organic Red Wine Vinegar

To make barley and caramelized vegetable salad at home, just follow the recipe here:

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