Mustard-Sage Turkey Cutlets with Barley Salad

The Challenge

Cooking up barley—its nutty flavor and rustic texture works well for an autumnal recipe—but the traditional hulled version of this grain should be soaked before cooking and it usually takes at least 40 minutes to finish.

The Convention

Using pearl barley, which is hulled barley that has been polished to remove the bran, as a quicker-cooking alternative.

The Quickie

Employing quick-cooking barley and the microwave to produce fully cooked grains in 10 minutes flat—and with the same amount of flavor and nutrition as pearl barley.

HOW THIS QUICKIE WORKS

• After zapping it in the microwave, rinsing the barley in cold water halts the cooking, quickly, ensuring it has just the right texture for the final salad
• The turkey cutlets take less than 10 minutes to cook in the skillet
• A mustard-sage pan sauce works double duty as both dressing for the barley salad and sauce for the turkey