When Tu B’Shvat rolls around we always make a habit of cooking with the Shivat HaMinim, the 7 agricultural products enumerated in the Torah as special to the Land of Israel. In honor of my move I figured, why wait? Barley, wheat, figs, dates, grapes, pomegranates and olive (oil) are all represented in this salad. The honey is a nod to the land of milk and honey and even the red wine vinegar is a further play on the grape theme. This sweet salad owes its nice crunch to an impulse buy. When I was almost finished shopping for this recipe I spied a generic brand of grape-nuts. There, in big letters on the cereal box it said “Wheat and Barley Nuggets” – it was just calling my name – a welcome upgrade from the donuts that always spoke to me during previous supermarket excursions.
Shivat HaMinim Salad
Servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked barley or Israeli couscous
- 1/4 cup dried figs chopped or 3 fresh figs, quartered
- 1/4 cup pitted dates sliced in rings or chopped
- 1/4 cup seedless grapes halved
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon country Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup wheat and barley nuggets cereal such as Grape-Nuts, optional
- 2 tablespoons parsley leaves torn
Instructions
- Combine barley, figs, dates, grapes and pomegranate seeds in a large bowl.
- Place oil, honey, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour dressing over barley salad and toss to coat well.
- Just before serving add cereal and toss to evenly distribute. Garnish with parsley leaves.
Goat’s milk is delicious.
MAZEL TOV ILENE!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! Great luck with your presentation, thanks for letting us know and I hope everyone enJOYs it!!
I was just elected Education Chair of my local Hadassah chapter. Giving my first presentation on Tu B’Shevat including a Seder. I am using your Shevat HaMinim Salad as my contribution to the meal. Can’t wait to try it. It looks so beautiful and delicious.
Sarah (YOU ARE HYSTERICAL!!! You sound like you would be a fun neighbor!) thanks for sharing I did just learn that recently (and use ALOT of Silan/Date Honey – I LOVE IT!) I also learned that the milk referred to is Goat’s milk… I love learning new things.
Yishar coach, Jamie!
A small correction: the honey alluded to in the Torah is date honey.
If you were my neighbor, I’d be visiting every day to taste your delicious food! Oh, well… Luckily (for you), I’m not.
Happy Purim!
Thank YOU for commenting all the way from Melbourne. Happy to cool you off!
Wow – I love this!!!! And perfect to eat during Melbourne’s (Australia) heatwave 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love to hear that Ronnie!
The 2nd edition of the OU Guide To Checking Fruits and Vegetables gives the following inspection guidelines. 1) Wash fig 2) Scan the surface of the fruit 3) Cut fig horizontally and split in half. 4) Examine inside of the fig for webbing, or any obvious signs of insect damage.
You’re right, why wait. I make a similar salad throughout the year. So delicious.
How do you check the figs for bugs?