Pearl Barley and Chicken Salad
Pearl barley and chicken salad is a hearty main course combining tender boneless chicken thighs, nutty pearl barley and crunchy cabbage with carrots. The Thermomix TM7 steams the chicken to juicy perfection while the barley simmers, and homemade soy dressing and furikake seasoning add savoury depth. A satisfying warm salad for lunch or dinner.
About this recipe
Pearl Barley and Chicken Salad Thermomix TM7 is a wholesome warm salad that turns a handful of everyday ingredients into a Japanese-inspired lunch or quick weeknight dinner. Looking for pearl barley recipes for your all-in-one kitchen machine, this one lets the TM7 do the heavy lifting: the chicken thighs steam until succulent while the barley bubbles in homemade chicken stock, absorbing savoury flavour grain by grain. Crunchy cabbage and grated carrots bring freshness and colour, while the blended soy dressing coats everything in a salty-sweet glaze and a sprinkle of homemade furikake adds toasted, umami-rich crunch. With 26 grams of protein per serving, it fills you up without weighing you down, and it tastes even better the next day, making it a smart meal prep choice. One bowl, one machine, minimal washing up and a salad that works just as well at a summer barbecue table as in a lunchbox.
Preparation tips
- Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch, so the grains stay separate and chewy rather than gluey in the finished salad with the soy dressing.
- Let the steamed chicken thighs rest for a few minutes before slicing, then cut against the grain so each piece stays juicy and mixes evenly through the barley, cabbage and carrot.
- Make a double batch of the furikake seasoning and store it in an airtight jar; it keeps for weeks and adds instant savoury crunch to rice, eggs or leftover barley salads.
Recipe variations
- Vegetarian version: replace the chicken thighs with firm tofu or tempeh steamed above the barley, and use vegetable stock paste instead of chicken stock paste for a fully plant-based salad.
- Winter variant: swap the raw cabbage and carrots for steamed pak choi and roasted squash, and add pomegranate seeds for a festive, colourful twist on the same soy-dressed barley base.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weigh the pearl barley and stock directly in the mixing bowl, with the built-in scale ensuring exact ratios for chewy, never soggy grains. [Precision Control]
- Steaming keeps the boneless chicken thighs succulent in the Varoma while the barley cooks below, saving time with one hands-free setup. [Hands-Free]
- Grate the carrots in seconds in the mixing bowl, producing even shreds that fold neatly through the cabbage and barley base. [Multi-Function]
- Blend the homemade soy dressing until silky and fully emulsified, coating every barley grain without any manual whisking. [Multi-Function]
- Grind the ingredients for your own furikake seasoning to a coarse, fragrant sprinkle that stays fresher than shop-bought blends. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- white cabbage
- carrots
- soy dressing, homemade
- chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- pearl barley
- chicken stock paste, homemade
- water
- furikake seasoning, homemade