...quite a random one but here goes... BARLEY recipes and uses?

[PrincessSnowLife]

I'm not sure if it is pearl barley, all I know is that it's barley and looks similar in colour to rice. I've never used it before and naturally there are no instructions or suggestions on the bag!

Anyone got any suggestions for easy ways to use it, mainly using veg? And any thoughts as to whether I have pearl barley or not?

Many thanks

I throw it into soups, casseroles or mice (not very veggie sorry)

It takes a while to cook - maybe an hour or 2?

pmsl - I assume you mean mince not mice... or maybe you do??

We're not veggie, it's just that meat is a bit expensive where we live, but if it makes mince more interesting I might try that actually.

And we do get the occasional mouse problem too !

so do you cook it first?

No I put it in raw with the mince (obviously) onion & carrot - I'm not sure it majkes it more interesting but it gets a pulse in & we don't eat many

Same with soups (I'm not a lentil fan)

OOh yes.let's have some ideas.
I can't get on with barley althoguh I would like to and don't understand diff. between pearl and regular barley.

I used to make a barley hotpot:

rougly chopped onion softened in olive oil, laods of pearl barley and stock, big handfuls of dark field mushrooms roughly chopped....right amount of water for barley. Herbs, maybe some lea and perrins or marmite. I don't think i had a real recipe, so can't be precise.

Dark, evil, ribsticking and warming.

Pearl barley

Put in cold water and bring to the boil - then simmer for 15 mins. Drain the water away and if using in a stew add to the stew at this stage and cook for at least 1 hour. If not then put the pearl barley back into a saucepan and add more cold water return to the boil again and simmer for 1 hour (make sure plenty of water in pan)

I use in beef stew to thicken the stew and bulk it out as a cheap ingredient, which is also good for you.

That sounds lovely

Blu that sounds delish
great tip ivykaty44

Hiya Moondog

Hiya PGL.
Was talking about you last night as had dinner at the house of one of the 'Golwg' team.

lovely things I hope

Wrth cwrs!

I still need the whoe idea of lemon barley water explained to me.What the hell is that all about?

that sounds nice justjules

So. So far I'm getting that barley is a very handy extra to chuck in to stews. Great for the winter.

Not sure about lemon barley either. I've got a recipe for barley water, which is supposed to be good for pms and digestive stuff. Maybe the lemon is to make it more palatable?

Oooh I was just about to create a post on this and then I saw this one. I have pearl barley/stew mix, some boneless chicken thighs, carrots and leeks. Was wondering if I could chuck it in a cassorole dish?

Do I need to cook it first?

Here's one we have quite often, from an old womans weekly or something.

Mushroom and barley bake.

Serves 4
90g/3oz butter
1 large sliced onion
250g/8oz pearl barley
2 teaspoons dill seeds
600ml/1 pint veg or chicken stock
250g/8oz sliced chestnut mushrooms
4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons cumin seeds
12 halved cherry tomatoes

Preheat oven to gas mark 4/180c/350f
Heat 60g/2oz of the butter in a frying pan and fry onion over medium heat for 8-10 mins until soft. Add pearl barley and stir well to coat with butter. Then add dill seeds and stock.
Pour mixture into roasting tin or casserole dish. Cover tightly with foil or lid. Bake in oven for 30 mins, then stir well and add the mushrooms. Cover again and bake for another 20 mins.
Meanwhile, roast the pumpkin and cumin seeds in a dry frying pan. Sprinkle them into the barley bake, stir in the tomatoe halves and dot with the remaining butter.

Not suitable for freezing.

We have it with either veggies or salad and it's delicious and filling.

Lemon barley water is good for your "water works" it works in the same way as cranberries - only I mean homemade not bottled lemon barley

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/home-made-lemonade,872,RC.html

Lemonade and lemon barley water link above

knitter that sounds great
I guess I could substitute the mushroom for pumpkin, which I have tons of at the mo...