QUINOA
MIXED GRAINS SALAD WITH MARINATED ZUCCHINI
Slow-cooking barley combines with quick-cooking quinoa in this refreshing and vibrantly coloured salad influenced by Italian and Greek cuisine. The grains soak up the bold flavours, giving the dish bite and substance.
PREPARATION TIME: 40 minutes | COOKING TIME: 30 minutes | SERVES: 6
MARINATED ZUCCHINI
6 small zucchini (courgettes)
about ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) olive oil
sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, crushed
¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar
3 tablespoons torn mint leaves
3 tablespoons torn parsley
MIXED GRAINS SALAD
1 cup (200 g/7 oz) pearl barley, cooked
1 cup (200 g/7 oz) quinoa, rinsed and cooked
1 cup (150 g/5½ oz) halved red cherry tomatoes
1 cup (150 g/5½ oz) halved yellow cherry tomatoes
½ cup (60 g/2¼ oz) pitted black olives
½ cup (60 g/2¼ oz) walnut halves
4 large radicchio leaves, roughly torn
2 handfuls torn pale inner leaves of curly endive or rocket
sea salt flakes and ground pepper
1 /3 cup (80 ml/2½ fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
To make the marinated zucchini, wash, trim and cut the zucchini lengthways into 8 mm ( 3 /8 in) thick slices. Working in batches, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a sturdy non-stick frying pan over medium–high heat. Arrange the zucchini in a single layer in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, until well browned. Remove from the pan, arrange in a shallow dish and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Warm the garlic, vinegar and sugar in a small pan and pour over the zucchini. Scatter with mint and parsley, toss lightly and leave at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
For the salad, put the barley, quinoa, tomatoes, olives, walnuts, radicchio and curly endive in a large bowl, adding salt and pepper to taste. Whisk the oil and vinegar together until emulsified, pour over the salad and toss lightly. Serve the salad topped with marinated zucchini.
TIP Cook the pearl barley in stock to pump up the flavours.