Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
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!
barley risottograinspearl barleypearl barley risottovegan risottovegetable risotto
FAQs
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.
Can I substitute lentils for pearl barley? ›
yes, that's fine. red lentils kind of disintegrate while green tend to hold their shape a bit better, but neither will take as long as barley to cook, so check the packet for when to add them. The barley should cook for 30 minutes, but I always find that they need longer.
How to cook pearl barley in the UK? ›
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.
How to reheat barley? ›
Or, transfer the cooled grains to a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 1 month.To reheat, defrost the barley in the refrigerator overnight. Then, add it to a saucepan on the stovetop with a few tablespoons of water. Cover and warm the barley over medium-high heat until heated through, tossing occasionally.
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.
Can I eat pearl barley every day? ›
Many medical associations such as the American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association recommend including whole-grain cereals such as barley in daily diet.
What happens if you don't soak pearl barley? ›
How to prepare barley. Pearl barley does not need to be soaked before use and will become tender during the cooking process. Pot barley is best when soaked overnight in cold water, then cooked in three parts liquid to one quantity of grain.
Is pearl barley better than quinoa? ›
Nutritional Value
Barley is a good source of iron, niacin, and vitamin B6, and supplies an adequate source of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. It also easily wins out in fiber content, providing both soluble and insoluble fiber, with one serving providing 8 grams, compared to quinoa's 3.
What is the difference between pearl barley and pearled barley? ›
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.
Should you rinse pearl barley before cooking? ›
As with most grains, it is a good idea to rinse pearl barley before cooking with it — particularly if adding straight to a soup or a stew. Cooking can be accelerated by using a pressure cooker. But the most common method is to add the grains straight to a broth or stew.
How much does barley expand when cooked? Uncooked barley triples in volume when it is cooked. One cup of raw barley yields three cups of cooked barley.
Can you overcook pearled barley? ›
Overcooked barley will become mushy, while undercooked may have a thicker and chewier texture. You can make barley as a side dish, but you can also cook it into your food. Feel free to cook our pearled barley in your favorite soup or stew, but be mindful that it will absorb a lot of liquid.
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.
What happens if you don't rinse barley? ›
Barley must be rinsed to remove any dust, dirt and debris just like you would with lentils for example. Preboiling removes any toxic substances that may be lurking on the barley and stops you from getting any of it.
Can I microwave pearl barley? ›
Yes, you can cook all types of barley in the microwave! Whether it's quick cooking or pearled barley, you can use the same basic instructions and adjust the cook times accordingly. Just like its name, quick-cooking barley takes about 15 minutes per 1 cup of barley to cook in the microwave.
Is pearled barley healthier than rice? ›
First, is barley better for you than rice? Barley and brown rice both have their benefits. If you're avoiding gluten, then brown rice should be your go-to, because barley has gluten. When it comes to folate and vitamin E, brown rice wins; but barley takes the trophy for fiber (it has much, much more) and calcium.
Is risotto better for you than rice? ›
Due to the higher fiber content in Arborio rice versus white rice, risotto will have more health benefits, including regulation of cholesterol and positive impacts on heart health.
Is barley healthier than Arborio rice? ›
If you were to consume whole grain barley (known as hulled barley), there would be no contest in the comparison of barley versus rice. Hulled barley has far more fiber (17.3 grams), protein and much larger amounts of nutrients.
Is pearl barley better for you than pasta? ›
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.
