Roasted Beet Salad with Barley, Pickles, and Red Onion

Makes about 5 cups1 cup dry pearl barley, 4 medium beets, tops removed, 1/2 medium red onion (about 1/2 cup),3-4 pickles, cut into small squares or crumbled, 4-5 scallions, sliced into fine rounds, 1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, salt and pepper to tasteextra sliced scallions for garnish

Heat the oven to 400-degrees.Loosely wrap the beets in tin foil and roast in the oven until they are just fork tender--30 - 45 minutes. Peel and dice the beets into small cubes.Meanwhile, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the barley and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the barley is al dente, about 30 minutes. If there is extra liquid in the pot, drain the barley and return it to the pan. Cover with a clean dishtowel until ready to use.Combine barley, beets, red onion, pickles, and scallions in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the lemon juice and olive oil over the top and toss to coat.Taste the mixture. As needed, add salt 1/4 teaspoon at a time. Pepper to taste. Serve family-style in a large bowl or in individual bowls.Garnish with extra scallions.