help with pearl barley

[liveinazoo]

can a wise mumsnetter please give me a difinitive way to cook pearl barley please?
packet i bought it in said boil for 15mins but didnt say how long after that
all i wanted was a cheap alternative to rice!!!
TIA

I generally throw in a few handfuls in the last half hour of a stew to 'bulk it out'.

I love it....

My reply may or may not be helpful as I always slow cook it stews with inexpensive cuts of meat- yummy!

Not sure if I would ever use it by its own instead of rice. Usually throw some into soups or stews as mentioned.

I wouldn't use it instead of rice either! In stews or soup for me too.

You can make a risotto with it (takes a bit longer to cook than risotto rice)

otherwise, I would simmer it in stock for about 20 mins. You want it a little bit chewy still.

There's a wonderful thread about pearl barley in MN Classics.