Barley Recipes – Add this Healthy Ingredient to your Diet

Barley is widely grown among many nations but did you also know that it contains several nutritional benefits?

Without further ado, let’s get familiar with some of these barley recipes.

Eating barley for breakfast could help you reduce weight and modulate your blood sugar levels while also preventing the feeling of fatigue throughout the day.

Other ailments such as anemia, hormone-dependant cancers as well as heart diseases too can be avoided by regularly consuming barley. Not only does it improve overall immunity but it also helps in cell regeneration in people of all ages.

Healthy Barley Recipes

Try out your hands at these healthy Barley recipes.

• Indian Curried Barley Pilaf
• Mediterranean Barley Salad
• Shrimp Barley and Corn Salad
• Pasta with Cilantro Pesto and Barley
• Barley and Mushrooms with Beans
• Pearl Barley Casserole

Indian Curried Barley Pilaf

Ingredients:

• A quarter cup of butter
• An Onion
• 2 Cups of pearl barley
• Half tsp of ground allspice
• Half tsp of turmeric powder
• A quarter tsp of curry powder
• Half tsp salt
• Black pepper
• Three and a half cups of chicken broth
• A quarter cup of slivered almonds
• A quarter cup of raisins

Method To Prepare:

• Begin by melting butter in a big skillet placed on medium heat and add barley and onion to be cooked. Stir frequently until the onions soften and stir again after adding the allspice, turmeric, curry powder, salt, and black pepper. Now pour the chicken broth into the mix and let it simmer.
• Secondly, let the skillet be covered with a lid at reduced heat for simmering until the barley becomes tender. This could take around half an hour after which, you must fluff the pilaf with a fork or a similar tool. Lastly, gently stir it after adding almonds and raisins into it and serve it.

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Mediterranean Barley Salad

Ingredients:

• A cup of barley
• Water
• Seven dry tomatoes
• Two Garlic cloves
• Two tbsp Olive oil
• One tsp balsamic vinegar
• Half a cup of properly chopped cilantro
• A can of chopped black olives

Method To Prepare:

• Get a saucepan and add both barley and water to be boiled at high heat. Do not burn them or reduce the heat in a while and cover it to allow it to be simmered until the barley becomes tender yet mildly firm in the center. This should be done in about 30 minutes which should then be followed by allowing it to be cooled at room temperature, preferably in a bowl.
• Make a puree of the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, two tbsp of olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a blender until it’s smooth and pour over the barley. Add the cilantro, olives, and remaining olive oil until everything is blended well together. Cover this puree to be refrigerated until cold and don’t forget to stir it before serving.

Shrimp Barley and Corn Salad

Ingredients:

• A cup full of barley
• Water
• A pound of cooked bay shrimp
• Two cups of frozen corn
• Half a cup of diced green bell pepper
• Half a cup of diced red bell pepper
• Four chopped green onions
• One tbsp chopped but fresh thyme
• One tsp minced lemon zest
• A quarter cup of fresh lemon juice
• A quarter cup of olive oil
• Half tsp of salt
• Half tsp of fresh black pepper

Method To Prepare:

• Begin by adding barley and water in a saucepan to be boiled and then cover it to let it simmer for about half an hour.
• Transfer the boiled barley into a large bowl and add shrimp, corn, bell peppers, green onions, thyme, and lemon zest.
• In another bowl, smaller, whisk together the lemon juice and oil. Add salt and pepper for seasoning and pour this dressing over barley salad. Remember to mix them well together by tossing to combine them.

Pasta with Cilantro Pesto and Barley

Ingredients:

• Water
• Half a cup of pearl barley
• Eight ounces of uncooked orecchiette pasta
• Cilantro
• Green onions
• A cup of halved grape tomatoes
• Half a cup of vegetable broth
• A quarter cup full of Parmesan cheese
• A cup full of arugula leaves
• Salt and pepper

Method To Prepare:

• Boil water in a saucepan and stir the added barley. Reduce the heat after a while and allow it to simmer for nearly 30 minutes.
• Add a little salt to water in a large pot and boil it to further add orecchiette pasta to be cooked for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the water.
• Mix the finely chopped cilantro, green onions, and half the tomatoes in the broth and Parmesan cheese. Let this mixture be processed in a food processor until everything is blended well.
• Toss the barley, pasta, cilantro mixture, remaining tomatoes, and arugula in a large bowl. Season this using salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Barley and Mushrooms with Beans

Ingredients:

• One tsp of olive oil
• Three cups of sliced fresh mushrooms
• A cup of properly chopped onion
• Half a cup of chopped celery
• At least two garlic cloves
• Half a cup of uncooked barley
• Three cups of vegetable broth
• A can of drained white beans

Method To Prepare:

• Start by heating oil in a medium saucepan at medium heat and stir the added mushrooms, onion, celery, and garlic. Until it’s tender, allow it to saute.
• Now into the saucepan, mix barley and vegetable broth and let them boil for a while, then cover it and reduce the heat. Let this simmer for a good quarter of an hour or until barley is tender.
• Add and stir the white beans into the barley mixture and continue cooking until beans are heated. Serve it with desired seasoning and toppings.

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Pearl Barley Casserole

Ingredients:

• At least three tsp of butter
• One large chopped onion
• Two chopped celery ribs
• A cup full of pearl barley
• Eight ounces of sliced mushrooms
• A chopped green bell pepper
• Two cups of chicken broth
• Salt and black pepper

Method To Prepare:

• Firstly, you’ll need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Secondly, get an oven-safe pot to melt butter at medium heat and add onion to be cooked until it mildly browns. Now, add celery and cook again until it softens by stirring frequently. Also, mix the barley into the vegetables and stir them together until they’re well coated with butter. Let the mushrooms and green pepper be added to the barley mixture and season them with salt and black pepper.
• This barley mixture is now ready to be mixed with chicken broth and for boiling. Remember to cover this casserole dish.
• Bake this mixture in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes and uncover the casserole dish to bake the barley until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Before serving, add salt and pepper according to taste.

Final Words

These various barley recipes would undoubtedly add more zest into your diet and keep you healthy at the same time. You can mix them up or prepare your own recipes too and share them with your family and friends. Look after yourself and your loved ones by adding barley into most of your meals for better immunity and longevity.

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