Barley is available in two forms: Scotch (hulled or pot) and pearl. Scotch barley has had only the outer husk removed and requires a long soaking period and 2 to 3 hours to cook. Pearl barley has been further refined by steaming and polishing—a process that removes the entire husk, leaving only the pearl or inner kernel. Pearl barley requires a shorter cooking time of about 30 minutes.
Most leafy greens in India contain too many insects to eat raw. As a result, Indian salads primarily consist of marinated non-leafy vegetables. Since bugs can be more easily removed from cabbage, it became one of the few widespread Indian greens. The flavor of this cabbage salad is very different from the European coleslaw.
Spinach salads, both raw and cooked, have long been popular in the Mediterranean and Near East. It is served on Rosh Hashanah, especially when combined with other symbolic foods such as pomegranates.