WTF to do with pearl barley?

[diggerdigsdogs]

I have about 1kg of it.

We're moving in 3 weeks so trying to empty the pantry. We are also bones of our arse broke so it needs using over buying something in!

Any ideas?

It's lovely in stew.

Treat like risotto - fry onion till soft, add pearl barley plus any veg you need to use up, then add stock bit by bit until soft.

Add about 3 or 4 tablespoons, washed, to a pot of soup. Simmer for 20 or so mins.

I make a chicken or scotch broth with it. Very filling and healthy.

Boil for 40 minutes, add chopped spring onion, cubed roast beetroot, lemon juice and feta. It's delish.

Drain before you add the other bits and pieces. Just in case you didn't get that . I suppose you can add whatever you like. Treat it like cous cous.

I bulk out soups with it to make them more like stew. So cook with leftover meat, veg, stock and a bay leaf if you have it.

Mmmm yes treat it as risotto to use up at a high volume (agree it's great in stews and soups)
It's v filling though, last time I made a pearl barley risotto I was very disappointed with how little I was able to eat. It was lovely.

Scotch broth is delicious, I've used it to make congee too.

Ah excellent! Thank you so much everyone, this is very much appreciated.

I'll try for a risotto tonight I think and then with roasted Beetroot and feta in the week

IhaveBrillohair I lived in China for a decade. Congee makes me

Could I direct your attention to the best thread in the history of threads about pearl barley?

My dutch parents used to have it for dessert - boil it, serve it (either hot or cold) with buttermilk and golden syrup. Really lovely!

Chicken soup. It's delicious.

You can also make haggis with it! Easier than you think. Just boil up the barley with some stock (45 mins) fry up some onion and mince with lots and lots of pepper, allspice and a bit of cayenne and salt, stir in the barley, some suet and some oats. Not difficult at all.

Stuff the mixture into a boil-in-the-bag bag and boil for half an hour. Serve on Burns Night (coming up soon) with plenty of whisky and poetry.

I saw this article at the weekend and thought of this thread.