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Using pearl barley as the base for a risotto instead of arborio makes a delicious alternative. This vegan friendly risotto is naturally gluten free with lots of flavour and brilliant eaten cold the next day. If there’s just two of you there’ll be loads for leftovers in the week.
What’s in the recipe?
Pearl Barley-This is a grain that can be either cooked from raw or soaked overnight. If you know you’re cooking this in the evening, soak in the day, drain then add to the pot just as instructed. It will take less time to cook if it’s been soaked.
Vegetables-I’ve used courgette, tomatoes and peppers, sliced into small pieces as it works with the grains if they’re slightly smaller. If you roast the vegetables on a tray with the herbs and olive oil, it gives a delicious flavour instead of adding to the pot. If you’re unable to roast them, simply add the vegetables to the pot after frying the onion and garlic, sizzle for a few minutes then add the grains and white wine.
White Wine- I get asked if you can replace the wine, however having made risotto without it, can confirm it doesn’t create the same flavour. It’s really difficult to find a good substitute so find a nice white wine (vegan friendly if you’re vg) and enjoy. You don’t have to spend much on a bottle
Pear Barley-When cooking this grain, you can soak them for a few hours beforehand if you want to, however it isn’t essential to this recipe. If you do soak them, it will reduce the cooking time from about 40 minutes to 25 minutes.
White wine-I think the wine is a really essential ingredient for a good risotto, pour it into the pot before adding the stock, so it absorbs into the pearl barley. That way it’ll cook off the alcohol but retain the flavour.
Roasting the veg-I think adding the vegetables to the oven gives a delicious caramelised flavour. If you chop them up into fairly small pieces it also really helps it work with the grains without being too bit to take a big bite.
Slow and low-With a risotto the trick is tonot rush but instead simmer and stir slowly. This will allow all the delicious flavours to marry each other and turn into a pot of comfort food.
Add my pepper and garlic oil to each bowl.Find the recipe justHERE. It’s a paste recipe, almost like harissa, so add a drizzle of the oil made from the paste to each bowl, it’s delicious!
Pearl Barley Vegetable Risotto
Using pearl barley instead of arborio to make this delicious vegetable risotto. It's vegan friendly with lots of flavour and brilliant eaten cold the next day. If there's just two of you there'll be loads for leftovers in the week.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 44 minutes mins
Ingredients
- For the roasting tray:
- vine of tomatoes about 250g
- 1 courgette diced
- 1 pepper diced
- Generous pinch of salt pepper, smoked paprika and thyme
- For the pot:
- 1 Knob of vegan butter 2 tbsp
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 large shallot or red onion
- 250 g Pearl barley
- 200 ml white wine
- 1.2 l Boiling water + stock cub
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- Generous serving of cracked black pepper to own preference
- 1 tsp fresh parsley or dried
Instructions
Pop the oven on to 200°C and add all of the veg to a roasting tray, add the seasoning with a drizzle of olive oil and toss, then pop in the oven and leave for 30 mins
Place the large pot on a medium heat, add the vegan butter and the diced shallot and fry for 4 minutes before adding the finely chopped garlic cloves
After a few minutes add the Pearl barley and toast before pouring in the white wine and allow to simmer and soak
Once soaked up, add the dried thyme and vegetable stock a cup full at a time until each batch has been absorbed
Once you’ve added all of the stock, add the salt and pepper, pop a lid on top and leave to simmer on a medium heat for a further 15 minutes or so
After around 30 minutes once the veg has cooked, the risotto should be about fully absorbed, add the roasted veg to the pot, mashing in the delicious tomato juices
Once the Pearl barley has softened and cooked, serve up with fresh chopped parsley (or dried) another pinch of salt and pepper and enjoy!
Notes
•Flora vegan butter is great
•A good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to top each dish is also great!
•If you want an extra kick add my garlic and pepper paste oil to each dish also!
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FAQs
For 100g pearl barley add 600ml cold water. Bring that to the boil and cook for 30 minutes. Drain off any remaining water and serve straight away as you would rice. Alternatively, if you want to serve the pearl barley cold, perhaps in a salad, it's a good idea to cool it down as quickly as possible after cooking.
Can I substitute lentils for pearl barley? ›
You can replace pearl barley with lentils in soups and stews. Green or brown lentils work best.
Is Pearl barley risotto healthier? ›
Additional pearl barley health benefits include twice the calcium and fibre than rice and about 30 percent fewer calories. Barley also has a better sodium level than rice, while in protein and fat content, the two are almost equivalent.
How many calories are in pearl barley risotto? ›
The 1:1 Diet Pearl Barley Risotto (1 serving) contains 29g total carbs, 19g net carbs, 4.1g fat, 16g protein, and 194 calories.
What is pearl barley called in America? ›
Pearl barley, which is often referred to as “pearled barley”, is the most common form of barley. It's still chewy and nutritious, but less so than hulled barley because the outer husk and bran layers have been removed. Since the grains are polished and softer, they take less time to cook, about 40 minutes.
What happens if you don't rinse pearl barley? ›
Barley does not need to be soaked before cooking, however, it is a good idea to rinse the grains. This removes any dirt or extra starch that is on the grain.
What happens if you don't soak pearl barley? ›
Do you have to soak barley before cooking? Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).
Is barley healthier than rice? ›
Farro and barley, being whole grains, contain more fiber and health benefits than white pasta or white rice. Barley and farro are similar in that they are high in fiber and also contain protein. Fiber content allows barley and farro to play a role in lowering cholesterol and strengthening the immune system.
Is pearl barley healthier than quinoa? ›
Quinoa Is Healthy, but Barley Holds Its Own
The nutritional facts show that while barley kicks butt in fiber content, quinoa takes the prize for protein — but only by a smidge. A serving of quinoa provides six grams of protein, compared to barley's five and brown rice's three.
What are the disadvantages of risotto? ›
Risotto contains carbohydrates, which are necessary to fuel the body. But, some recipes are high in saturated fat because of the cheese and butter that is used to prepare the dish. Risotto can also be high in sodium.
Orzo also has a higher fiber content than rice as well. Orzo does, however, have a higher carbohydrate content per serving, but not by much. Due to the higher protein and fiber content, orzo will leave you feeling fuller for longer which is helpful for those trying to lose weight.
Is risotto good for your gut? ›
Risotto has an adequate amount of fibre that aids in the proper functioning of the digestive tract and regulates bowel function. It also helps treat common digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhoea.
How do you reheat pearl barley risotto? ›
How to reheat pearl barley risotto: Transfer the pearl barley risotto to a saucepan or casserole pot with a few tablespoons of water. Heat on a medium heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until the risotto is piping hot all the way through.
Can you reheat pearl barley in the microwave? ›
🌡️ Reheating
Place the grain in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute and then stir. Repeat until the barley is completely and evenly warmed. You can also reheat barley on the stove. Add a little butter or oil to a pan and sautee until the grains are warm.
How long do you cook pearl barley for? ›
How to cook barley. Pot or pearl barley can be used to bulk up soups and stews, or made into a salad for a substantial main meal, or it can be used in place of arborio rice in risotto. Pearl barley cooks to al dente in boiling, salted water in around 25 minutes, or around 40 minutes at a low simmer.
Does pearl barley need to be soaked before cooking? ›
Do you have to soak barley before cooking? Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).
How much pearl barley per person in the UK? ›
Allow approximately 60g of pearl barley per 180g cooked serving.
What is pearled barley in English? ›
Pearl barley, or pearled barley, is barley that has been processed to remove its fibrous outer hull and polished to remove some or all of the bran layer.
Is pearl barley grown in the UK? ›
Pearl Barley is a versatile grain that is great to have in your plastic free pantry. Pearl barley that has been ethically and sustainably grown here in the United Kingdom.
