whole grain spelt salad

Whole Grain Spelt Salad

Grain salads are forgiving and flexible, and nutty takes well to all kinds of vegetables like fennel, arugula, or carrots. Here, quick-marinated mushrooms, leeks, and cucumbers combine for a refreshing, flavorful salad. Marinating the cooked mushrooms and leeks with cider vinegar for 15 minutes allows them to absorb the vinegar so that each bite delivers a pop of tartness. A sprinkling of pepper powder adds a blast of color and a mild, wonderfully fruity red-pepper flavor.

Ingredients :

• Freshly ground black pepper
• Kosher salt
• Espelette pepper powder, for garnish
• 1/4 cup Minced chives
• 1/2 cup Minced flat-leaf parsley
• 2 Small Persian cucumbers
• 6 cups Cooked whole-grain spelt
• 1/2 cup Cider vinegar, divided
• 1 tsp. Picked thyme leaves, minced
• 2 cloves Medium garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 Large leek, diced
• 1 pound Cremini mushrooms, diced
• 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil, divided