Barley Salad With Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins Recipe

How to Make Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins

SERVINGS: 4
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES
SKILL LEVEL: EASY
MEAL: LUNCH-DINNER
STYLE: WESTERN
PREPARATION: SALAD
EAT IN: SUMMER

INGREDIENTS

SKILL LEVEL: EASY

1/4 c	RAISINS
1 tbsp	MINT
1 c	CUCUMBER
1 lbs	ARUGULA
1 lbs	RED LEAF LETTUCE
1/2 c	BARLEY
1/2 tsp	DILL
1/4 lbs	ENDIVE

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. In a pot, simmer barley in boiling water for 25-30 minutes or until soft. Strain excess water and allow to cool.

2. Chop salad leaves and cucumbers as desired.

3. Coarsely chop raisins.

4. Mix all ingredients together gently and serve.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

A softer salad with barley, dill, mint, and cucumber. Feel this light and cooling combination refresh the body and calm the mind on a hot summer day. Sweet raisins and perhaps a dab of honey mustard or a sliced radish will add a touch of contrasting pungency to the dish and just enough warmth to ease digestion so you feel light and energized after eating.

Treat yourself to this cooling, cleansing and beautifying salad this summer - your skin, in particular, will thank you! These long, hot days can overheat the blood, leading to inflammation, breakouts, increased stress and irritability. Counter these heat conditions and add a summer glow to your skin with 'Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber and Raisins'.

Cooling & Cleansing

Barley, cucumber and mint compliment each other's cooling and cleansing properties. Barley and cucumber are diuretics, meaning this salad supports the body to flush toxins through the urinary system and allows you to shed excess water weight. They both soothe and protect irritated and inflamed bowels due to their demulcent properties. Barley also increases the release of bile from the liver and gall bladder aiding fat metabolism, decongesting the liver and purifying the blood.

Balance Body & Mind

Cleaner blood means clearer skin. Cucumber also adds a hydrating and moisturizing element to this meal. This juicy salad staple cools the liver and refreshes the eyes due to its cool, liquid and sweet properties. But as temperatures spike, it's not only our body and blood that needs cooling, but also our mind. Aromatic mint clears and decongests the body and the mind, reducing stagnation in the liver, blood and lymph as well as stagnated emotions. It will help you combat summer stress and allow you to relax and feel cool and calm.

Beat Humid Heat

The cooling nature and diuretic properties means this salad is a great choice for Pitta and Kapha in the humid heat. It may be too difficult for a Vata type to digest so try blanching the salad greens by briefly submerging in boiling water followed by ice cold water. This will soften them just enough without losing nutrient value. Adding some honey and mustard will also provide the missing heat and ease digestion.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

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EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

AGGRAVATES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

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SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)

Digestion:

Stimulates Peristalsis

STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS

An herb that promotes involuntary smooth muscle contractions to facilitate the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS' FOODS / HERBS

Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS

Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Crown

STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Refreshes Skin

REFRESHES-SKIN

Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

Salicylates

SALICYLATES

Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it.

SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin K,

Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

, Beta Carotene,

Calcium

CALCIUM

Calcium nourishes bones and muscles. A muscle cell is activated when calcium enters the cell. It relaxes when the calcium is secreted.

SEE ALL 'CALCIUM' FOODS / HERBS

Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Potassium, Quercitin

Foods with a Similar Nature to Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins

Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Diaphoretic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Nutritive
LEARN MORE
Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common
Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Cholagogue, Livotonic, Stimulates-peristalsis, Alterative, Diuretic
LEARN MORE
Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common
Wakes-you-up, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-crown, Stomachic, Refreshes-skin, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain
LEARN MORE
Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Nutritive, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stomachic
LEARN MORE
Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Wakes-you-up, Cholagogue, Quenches-thirst, Alterative, Livotonic, Refreshing
LEARN MORE
Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Stomachic, Cholagogue, Refreshing
LEARN MORE
Beets

Beets has these Actions in Common
Livotonic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Vasodilator, Cholagogue, Satisfies-stomach, Alterative
LEARN MORE
Orange

Orange has these Actions in Common
Nutritive, Refreshing, Quenches-thirst, Stimulates-energy, Cholagogue, Refreshes-skin, Wakes-you-up
LEARN MORE
Kale

Kale has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis
LEARN MORE
Grapefruit

Grapefruit has these Actions in Common
Quenches-thirst, Stimulates-peristalsis, Cholagogue, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy
LEARN MORE
Red Leaf Lettuce

Red Leaf Lettuce has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Wakes-you-up, Cholagogue, Stimulates-energy, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis
LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Barley Salad with Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Diaphoretic, Stomachic, Diuretic, Vasodilator, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refreshing
LEARN MORE
Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Alterative, Vasodilator
LEARN MORE
Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common
Vasodilator, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Livotonic, Stomachic
LEARN MORE
Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Quenches-thirst, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up
LEARN MORE
Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Livotonic, Lowers-blood-sugar
LEARN MORE
Shilajit Tonic

Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refreshing
LEARN MORE
Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy
LEARN MORE
Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown
LEARN MORE
Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Livotonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Soothes-throat
LEARN MORE
Sniff raw onions, chopped

Sniff raw onions, chopped has these Actions in Common
Vasodilator, Wakes-you-up, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain
LEARN MORE
Guduchi

Guduchi has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Livotonic, Lowers-blood-sugar
LEARN MORE

Comments & Impressions of 'Barley Salad With Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins'

Do you like 'barley salad with mint, dill, cucumber, raisins'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'barley salad with mint, dill, cucumber, raisins'?

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 548 likes

Perry Devaney Batavia, IL

2013-01-03

“I made this in the winter and used more barley and fewer greens. I suggest you make a dressing with the honey and mustard as noted."

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Barley Salad With Mint, Dill, Cucumber, Raisins

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