Source: Timolina, AdobeStockPearl barley is often underestimated, and completely unfairly so – it's just as versatile a grain as any other, and many recipes using it are centuries old. The only problem is that not everyone knows how to cook it or what to make with it. We're sharing 20 easy and delicious recipes!
1. Pearl Barley in Tomato Sauce
Source: fitstars.ruTo save cooking time, we recommend boiling the pearl barley in advance.
You will need: 1 cup pearl barley, 400 g canned tomatoes in their own juice, 2 tbsp tomato sauce, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, fresh herbs, sugar, salt, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley according to package directions. Mince the onion and garlic, sauté them in oil until translucent, then add the chopped tomatoes with their juice. Add the tomato sauce and all spices to taste, simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in the cooked pearl barley. Simmer for another 5 minutes, add fresh herbs, and remove from heat.
2. Creamy Pearl Barley Porridge
Source: ideireceptov.ruThis recipe is sure to please lovers of classic creamy breakfast porridges.
You will need: 1 cup pearl barley, 4 cups milk, 0.5 tbsp sugar, 0.5 tsp salt, 2 tbsp butter.
Instructions: Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly with warm water, cover with 1 liter of boiling water, and cook for 15 minutes. Then drain, transfer to a pot, pour in hot milk, add salt, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, cover, and let the pearl barley finish cooking in a warm oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve with butter.
3. Rassolnik with Pearl Barley
Source: ok.ruTraditional rassolnik with pickled cucumbers – what could be better for lunch?
You will need: 350 g veal, 1 cup pearl barley, 3 pickled cucumbers, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 2.5 L water, 1 bunch dill, spices.
Instructions: Cover the veal and rinsed pearl barley with water, and simmer the broth over low heat for about 1.5 hours. Mince the onion, grate the carrot, and sauté until soft. Add thinly sliced pickled cucumbers and fry for a couple more minutes.
Add diced potatoes to the broth, and after 10 minutes, add the sautéed vegetables, spices, and chopped dill. Simmer the rassolnik for another 1 minute, remove from heat, and let it steep covered for about half an hour.
4. Vegetable Salad with Pearl Barley and Feta
Source: obed37.ruIt's something like a Greek salad, but much heartier.
You will need: 4 tbsp pearl barley, 100 g feta, 1 bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1 cucumber, 1 red onion, 1-2 handfuls olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley according to package directions. Dice the vegetables into medium pieces, and the feta into cubes. Add olives, season the salad, and drizzle with oil and balsamic vinegar.
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5. Pearl Barley Salad for Winter Preservation
Source: postila.ruA jar of this preserve will definitely come in handy when you need to whip something up quickly.
You will need: 200 g pearl barley, 2 kg tomatoes, 1 kg bell peppers, 500 g carrots, 500 g onions, 1 tsp citric acid, 40 g salt, 120 g sugar, 250 ml vegetable oil, spices.
Instructions: Soak pearl barley overnight, rinse, cover with clean water, bring to a boil, and leave covered. Roughly chop all vegetables, add oil, sugar, salt, and bring to a boil. Add the pearl barley to the vegetables and simmer everything over low heat for 45 minutes. 10 minutes before the end of cooking, add spices and citric acid. Seal the salad in sterilized jars.
6. Soldier's Porridge
Source: vk.comThe special feature of this porridge is that it's made from several types of grains.
You will need: 3 onions, 2 carrots, 4 tbsp each pearl barley, millet, and dried peas, 2.5 cups boiling water, spices.
Instructions: Mince the onion and carrot, and sauté until soft. Rinse and mix all grains with the peas. Layer the sautéed vegetables, grains, and then more sautéed vegetables in a cauldron. Pour in boiling water, season, and cook the porridge for about 1 hour over low heat, stirring occasionally.
7. Kozinaki (Nut Brittle) from Pearl Barley
Source: youtube.comSurprisingly, you can even make a dessert from pearl barley.
You will need: 1/2 cup pearl barley, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp honey, 0.5 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 pinch salt.
Instructions: Rinse and dry the pearl barley in a dry pan. Add oil and fry until golden. Mix sugar, honey, and salt, and simmer over low heat for 1 minute. Combine the sweet mixture with the pearl barley, spread onto oiled parchment paper, and let it set.
8. Chicken and Pearl Barley Salad
Source: nvkz-tub.ruThis is definitely not just an appetizer, but a complete main course.
You will need: 1/2 cup pearl barley, 200 g chicken fillet, 1 egg, 1 pickled cucumber, 1/2 red onion, 4 tbsp canned corn, mayonnaise, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley, chicken, and egg in advance. Let everything cool, dice the ingredients, mix the salad, dress it with mayonnaise, and season.
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9. Ukha (Fish Soup) with Pearl Barley
Source: razgulyayka.ruPearl barley makes any first course much heartier and tastier.
You will need: 500 g fish, 5 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1/2 cup pearl barley, spices, fresh herbs.
Instructions: Roughly prepare the fish, add spices, cover with water, and simmer the broth for about 40 minutes. Mince the carrot and onion, dice the potatoes. Strain the broth, add the rinsed pearl barley, and cook until it's half-done. Add all vegetables and continue cooking the ukha until the ingredients are tender. Finally, add spices and fresh herbs.
10. Pearl Barley with Stewed Meat in a Multicooker
Source: multivarca.ruWhen you want something as simple as possible to prepare.
You will need: 1 cup pearl barley, 300 g canned stewed meat, 1 carrot, 1 onion, spices, 500 ml boiling water.
Instructions: Soak pearl barley overnight. Place the stewed meat in the multicooker bowl and cook for 5-6 minutes on the "Fry" mode. Mince the onion and carrot, add them to the stewed meat, and cook for another 10 minutes. Add the rinsed pearl barley, season, pour in boiling water, and set to "Porridge" mode for 1 hour.
11. Roasted Vegetable and Pearl Barley Salad
Source: nvkz-tub.ruIt will take a little time to prepare, but the result is definitely worth it.
You will need: 250 g pearl barley, 2 zucchini, 2 bell peppers, 1 eggplant, 2 cloves garlic, 100 ml vegetable oil, 60 ml wine vinegar, 20 ml lemon juice, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley according to package directions. Dice the vegetables, add garlic, drizzle with oil, season, and roast in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 20-30 minutes. Mix the roasted vegetables with the pearl barley and dress the salad with the remaining oil, wine vinegar, and lemon juice.
12. Pearl Barley Pilaf
Source: kaminia.ruAn original take on classic pilaf for culinary adventurers.
You will need: 500 g beef, 1 cup pearl barley, 2 onions, 1 carrot, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 hot red pepper, 1 head garlic, 70 ml vegetable oil, 1 tsp each cumin and paprika, 1 tbsp barberry, spices.
Instructions: Cut the beef into medium pieces and fry in oil in a cauldron until browned. Add roughly chopped onion and carrot, and cook until soft. Add tomato paste, spices, garlic, and hot pepper. Stir.
Pour in enough boiling water to just cover the meat, and simmer covered for half an hour. Add the rinsed pearl barley and pour in more boiling water to cover it. Simmer covered over low heat until the grain is cooked, about 40-45 minutes.
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13. Pearl Barley and Minced Meat Casserole
Source: foto-onlain.ruA hearty and inexpensive dish for the whole family.
You will need: 300 g pearl barley, 400 g minced meat, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 L broth, spices.
Instructions: Mince the onion, grate the carrot, and sauté until soft. Add minced meat and fry for 10 minutes. Blend the pearl barley and mix it with the minced meat and spices. Transfer everything to a baking dish, pour in broth, and bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 1 hour.
14. Cucumber and Pearl Barley Salad
Source: pinterest.comA very original salad with fresh and pickled cucumbers and honey.
You will need: 1 cup pearl barley, 1 cucumber, 2 pickled cucumbers, 2 green onion stalks, 1 clove garlic, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp honey, 3 sprigs parsley, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley, dice the cucumbers, mince the parsley and green onion with garlic. Add pumpkin seeds and mix the salad. For the dressing, combine oil, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
15. Pearl Barley Patties
Source: dzen.ruHearty Lenten patties for a snack.
You will need: 2 cups cooked pearl barley, 1 onion, 2-3 tbsp flour, spices.
Instructions: Blend the onion with the cooked pearl barley and season to taste. Form into patties, coat them in flour, and fry on both sides over medium heat.
16. Pearl Barley Risotto
Source: zdorovogotovim.ruSometimes this dish is also called "perlotto," and it turns out no worse than rice risotto.
You will need: 250 g pearl barley, 100 g mushrooms, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 250 ml dry white wine, 250 ml broth, 200 ml cream, 100 g Parmesan, spices.
Instructions: Mince the onion, garlic, and mushrooms, and sauté until golden. Add the rinsed pearl barley, stir, pour in wine, and bring to a boil. Continue cooking over medium heat, adding broth mixed with cream as it evaporates. Cook until the pearl barley is tender. At the end of cooking, season everything and mix with grated Parmesan.
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17. Pearl Barley with Meat in Clay Pots
Source: almode.ruDishes cooked in clay pots always acquire a special taste and aroma.
You will need: 600 g meat, 400 g pearl barley, 200 g onion, 280 g carrots, 1.5 L broth, spices.
Instructions: Soak pearl barley overnight and rinse. Cut the meat, season, and fry until browned. Add onion, and after 2-3 minutes, add carrots, and fry until the vegetables are soft. Mix everything with the pearl barley, divide into clay pots, and pour in broth. Cook for approximately 2 hours at 180 degrees Celsius in the oven.
18. Zucchini and Pearl Barley Salad with Pesto Sauce
Source: lizshealthytable.comSimple and with minimal ingredients, but we're sure you're trying this salad for the first time.
You will need: 250 g cooked pearl barley, 2 zucchini, 200 g mozzarella, 90 g pesto sauce, spices.
Instructions: Slice and fry the zucchini until browned. Roughly chop the mozzarella and mix everything together. Dress the finished salad with pesto sauce.
19. Lenten Soup with Pearl Barley and Mushrooms
Source: botanichka.ruInstead of champignons, you can use any other mushrooms of your choice.
You will need: 2 tbsp pearl barley, 1.5 L water, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 500 g champignons, 4 potatoes, spices.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley until half-done. Mince the onion and champignons, sauté them until the moisture evaporates. Grate the carrot and dice the potatoes. Boil water, add carrots, potatoes, and pearl barley, and cook for 10 minutes. Add mushrooms and spices to taste, cook for another 2-3 minutes, remove from heat, and let the soup steep.
20. Vegetable Patties with Pearl Barley
Source: prokuhnyu.ruAnother recipe for hearty and healthy Lenten patties without meat or eggs.
You will need: 250 g pearl barley, 200 g onion, 220 g carrots, 2 cloves garlic, 350 g potatoes, spices, breadcrumbs.
Instructions: Cook pearl barley according to package directions. Mince the onion, grate the carrot, and sauté until soft. Then pass the sautéed vegetables along with the pearl barley through a meat grinder. Grate the potatoes, mince the garlic, and mix everything together. Season the mixture, form into patties, and fry them in vegetable oil over medium heat on both sides.