Barley porridge in many causes mixed feelings. On the one hand, no one doubts her benefits, on the other - her appearance is not the most attractive. But for those who need maximum nutrients at minimum cost, barley is simply irreplaceable. It is not for nothing that soldiers have been feeding her since the time of the Roman Empire. But before starting to cook it, it would be nice to figure out which plant they receive pearl barley from.
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Probably there is no such person who would not hear about barley. Perhaps this is one of the most common cereals on the planet. It is enjoyed with pleasure throughout Europe and Asia. Historians even believe that this is one of the oldest crops on Earth. It is even mentioned in the Bible. However, all this does not prevent people from not knowing what pearl barley is made of.
Barley is the raw material for the manufacture of barley. This, perhaps, along with wheat, is one of the oldest plants cultivated by man. Today, barley is used everywhere in the food industry. Beer is brewed from it, flour is made, and, of course, cereals. Moreover, from the same grain they receive as many as three: barley, Dutch and barley groats. How it turns out depends on the degree of processing of barley.
Technology
Having an idea of which plant pearl barley is derived from and not just one, a reasonable question arises of how this can be achieved. The fact is that different grain processing technology is used. So, barley is obtained by grinding barley up to 6 times, until only the first top layer is removed. Due to this, it retains its useful properties and repeats the elongated shape of the original grain.
The golandka is polished until it acquires the correct spherical shape. As a result, less useful properties are preserved in it, but it is cooked easier and faster. Barley groats are obtained even by simple crushing of the original grain. As a result, the appearance and taste of the latter are very different from barley and Dutch.
Beneficial features
Many people regard pearl barley scornfully, considering it a low-grade porridge. However, for a long time, even before the advent of industrial processing methods, only representatives of the royal family and nobles could afford it. It was then that the expression appeared that pearl barley is a pearl among cereals. Today it has a completely different meaning. Indeed, in our time it is well known about its undoubted benefits for the body.
So, in pearl barley contains lysine, which contributes to the production of collagen. As you know, its lack leads to rapid aging of the skin and the early appearance of wrinkles. Due to the content of B vitamins, zinc and selenium, barley strengthens the nervous system. It is referred to as natural antioxidants, which contribute to the general rejuvenation of the body, improve the structure of hair and nails. In fact, barley can be considered a source of youth and beauty.
And that is not all. Regardless of which plant pearl barley is obtained from, due to the low processing of grain, it retains a lot of cellulose in its composition. It is several times more than in the same wheat. Of the beneficial properties of pearl barley, it is worth noting the presence in its composition of a natural antibiotic - hordecin. It helps fight fungal skin diseases. And at the barley of barley prepare soups for sparing diets.
Contraindications
Many people are quite well aware of the beneficial properties of pearl barley, while its harm is greatly minimized. But you should eat it more than 3 times a week, since with regular overeating it can contribute to weight gain and constipation. Because of these properties, in any modern diet, it is recommended to exclude it completely from the diet or use it only for breakfast.
Also, pearl barley should be abandoned by future and nursing mothers, since the gluten contained in it can harm the baby and provoke an allergic reaction. In men, an excess of pearl barley can reduce sexual desire (by the way, this is one of the reasons why it is included in the soldiers menu). And lastly, eating cereal from this cereal should only be hot and freshly prepared, since after cooling all the useful properties are nullified and it does not matter at all which plant pearl barley is derived from.
Porridge recipe
There are many ways to cook pearl barley porridge, but the most delicious pearl barley porridge is obtained in a water bath. So it was cooked for Peter I.
Soak a glass of cereal in 1 liter of clean water, cover with a towel and leave overnight (or at least 8-12 hours). In the morning, drain and rinse the barley in cold water. Meanwhile, bring 2 liters of milk to a boil on the stove, pour in the swollen groats and boil over low heat for 5 minutes.
Pour more water into the pan, put on fire and bring to a boil. Put a pot of pearl barley on top, cover and cook for 6 hours. In this case, the fire should be reduced to a minimum and it is necessary to periodically add water to the lower pan as it boils. Such a pearl barley porridge will have a pleasant cream color and a nutty flavor. Already in a plate, fill to taste with oil, salt and honey. Tasty and healthy pearl barley porridge is ready.
In conclusion, you can see that they often ask about which plant they get barley and semolina from. Perhaps because both of them have nothing in common with the cereal from which they are made. So, barley is made from barley, and semolina is made from wheat.