Delicious Pearl Barley Recipe

At first glance it may seem very strange that historically it happened that the appearance of pearl barley is directly associated with the name "pearl". At the same time, people of the military profession and those men who served in the army and gave their duty to the motherland are called it fraction or buckshot. But this is not surprising.

Many of us are accustomed to boiling mushroom soup or pickle with pearl barley, and in the army they serve it as a side dish or cook with stew and vegetables. But, in fact, the recipe for pearl barley porridge is not at all one, or even two, you just need to know how to cook it properly so that the dish looks appetizing. Yes, and cereal has a lot of useful properties for our body, so at least sometimes it must be included in the diet of the family.

barley with fruit

About the benefits of pearl barley

The very name of cereals already speaks of a special attitude to the product, because not every grain is called a jewel. In ancient times, pearls were called “pearls”, hence the second name of pearl barley, because properly peeled and polished grain resembles small river pearls. But they appreciated the product back in those days not because of its appearance, but because it possessed useful properties and high nutritional value.

Small grains contain a unique composition of vitamins and nutrients that a person needs for health and well-being. In addition, the cereal contains quite a lot of vegetable protein, which is necessary in the children's diet and for those people who play sports and lead an active lifestyle. And the enveloping properties of porridge are indispensable for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and peptic ulcer.

A small amount of porridge during the diet is also useful, since there is a lot of fiber in cereal. The recipe for pearl barley porridge can be seen below. But it is worth considering that the grain has a high nutritional value, so the portions should be small.

Among the 16 minerals in the composition of cereals, it is especially worth noting the high phosphorus content, which positively affects the brain and metabolic processes in the body. And in addition, you can replenish the reserves of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron, lysine, which strengthens the heart muscle and smoothes wrinkles, making the skin supple and toned. What does the finished pearl barley look like? You can see the recipe with the photo below.

pearl barley

How to cook pearl barley

After so many words have been said about the benefits of cereals in the daily diet, the time comes to reveal the secrets of the correct and tasty preparation of barley.

Before starting the process, it is recommended to carefully sort through the cereals and soak them briefly, and then rinse thoroughly in running water. What is the right recipe for pearl barley porridge? Soak the washed cereals at the rate of 1 liter of water per glass of barley. Soaking cereals should be at least 3-4 hours, and it is better to leave it overnight in a cool place.

The dishes should be large enough, as the cereal swells and can increase up to 5 times in volume. After the allotted time for soaking, the cereal is washed again until the water becomes clean and transparent. How much pearl barley porridge is prepared according to the recipe, how to cook, is described just below.

Different cooking methods

After the cereal is ready for further heat treatment, thoroughly washed, you can choose one of the methods of proper preparation.

Method 1. The simplest recipe for pearl barley porridge. Transfer the cereals into a pot with a thick bottom and walls, pour two glasses of cold water, put on fire and bring to a boil. Switch the burner to the minimum level, close the pan with a lid and cook for about 45 minutes. If necessary, you can add hot water, which at the end of cooking should completely evaporate. Remove from heat and wrap so that the barley is swept.

Method 2. According to the recipe, pearl barley porridge is obtained with a delicate creamy taste. Pour 2 liters of cow’s milk of normal fat content into the pan, bring it to a boil and pour the washed cereal into the pan. Boil over moderate heat without a lid for 5-7 minutes and remove the pan from the heat. Further cereals are cooked in a water bath for 2-3 hours, so that the cereal does not burn, and the milk does not run away.

Method 3. For cooking dishes with pearl barley in the oven, the prepared cereals must be boiled until half-cooked, and then put it into ceramic pots. In modern multi-cookers, cereals will be ready in 25-30 minutes, provided that it has been soaked overnight and has absorbed enough water.

porridge with sauce

Delicious pearl barley recipes

Pearl barley is a healthy and tasty product, but cereals are undeservedly ignored, using only occasionally a small amount for making soups. But in vain, because pearl barley can bring great benefits to the body, even if a recipe for pearl barley porridge in water is prepared without adding spices and meat.

Barley porridge as a side dish

A great option for a nutritious side dish for meat dishes cooked with sauce. This can be, for example, pork or beef stewed in tomato and cream sauce.

Required Products:

  • 1 cup pearl barley;
  • 2 liters of water or vegetable broth;
  • 0.5 teaspoon of large salt;
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic;
  • Bay leaf.

Cooking side dish:

  • In the evening, iterate over, rinse and soak the cereal, drain the water in the morning, rinse the product thoroughly again and, transferring it to the pan, pour cold water or hot vegetable broth.
  • Put on the stove, bring to a boil, add peeled and crushed with a knife cloves of garlic, bay leaf and salt, mix, reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours until fully cooked.
  • Wrap the finished porridge and stew for about 2-3 hours, making sure that it does not cool. The liquid remaining at the bottom during this time is absorbed into the grain, and the side dish will turn out friable and fragrant.
porridge with meat

Barley with zucchini and tomatoes

In the summer season, when tender zucchini is just beginning to ripen, and the beds already have fleshy and juicy tomatoes, a large abundance of fresh herbs, it is recommended to cook cereals according to this recipe.

Required Products:

  • half a glass of cereal;
  • 500 g of young zucchini;
  • 2-3 large tomatoes;
  • 1 liter of vegetable or chicken broth;
  • bunch of dill and parsley;
  • 80 g of butter;
  • 2 cloves of garlic;
  • 1 sweet onion;
  • coarse salt and black pepper.

How to cook cereal with vegetables

Prepare the cereal for cooking, transfer it to the pan and pour vegetable or chicken broth. Put on the stove, bring to a boil, mix to avoid sticking and leave to cook until the grain is almost ready.

Melt the butter in a pan and fry the finely chopped onions and garlic. Peel the zucchini if ​​necessary and cut into small cubes. In tomatoes, cut the stem and chop.

Once the onions and garlic are golden brown, add the tomatoes. Once they are softened, add chopped zucchini. Sprinkle vegetables generously with salt and spices, pepper, mix and add to almost cooked porridge.

Mix well and stew for another 10-12 minutes, adding chopped greens at the very end. The dish is definitely worth a try and evaluate whether it has enough salt and spices.

classic pearl barley

Porridge with vegetables and meat

When preparing a recipe for pearl barley porridge with meat, you get a tasty and satisfying dish, which will be a good idea for an everyday dinner for all family members. The most important thing is to properly prepare the grits for further heat treatment.

Required Products:

  • 650 g of pork pulp;
  • 125 g pearl barley;
  • sweet onions - 2 pcs.;
  • 2 medium carrots;
  • 1 red bell pepper;
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic;
  • 1 medium squash or zucchini;
  • a small bunch of fresh greens of dill and parsley;
  • a pinch of dry basil;
  • coarse salt and black pepper;
  • 50 ml of sunflower oil.

How to cook barley with meat and vegetables

Prepare the cereal in advance by washing and soaking it. Grind, finely chopped onions and garlic, and fry in oil. Fry until golden, and for now the root vegetables are golden, grate or cut carrots in very small cubes. Add it to the skillet for frying. While it is fried, cut bell pepper and zucchini, shift them to fry. The latest in vegetable roasting are tomatoes. After they let the juice, vegetables can be salted, seasoned with spices and dry basil.

Prepare the meat by chopping it into small pieces. In a large saucepan with a thick bottom, heat a little oil and fry the meat, add the washed cereals and fried vegetables, salt and pepper well. At this stage, you can season the dish with your favorite spices and herbs, add turmeric or sweet paprika for an appetizing color and aroma.

Stir all the ingredients, pour in the water so that it completely covers the cereal with vegetables and meat, and put on medium heat. Simmer until cooked, but at least 45-50 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh herbs a couple of minutes before being ready, leaving it a little for the final decoration of the dish.

Advice! This mode can be perfectly adapted for cooking in a slow cooker. The process looks exactly the same: first you need to fry the vegetables, put all the products in a bowl and select the desired mode. To do this, “Stew” or “Porridge”, “Pilaf” mode is suitable. It will be enough one cycle of the appliance, and then the dish needs to be darkened for a couple of hours, so that the cereal swells and becomes friable, in the "Food warming" mode. Then you will get friable pearl barley porridge, the recipe of which is incredibly easy to prepare.

porridge with nuts

Barley porridge with stew and fried root vegetables

A simple version of a country or camp dish, which can be easily cooked over an open fire, having at hand a small cast-iron or aluminum cauldron. Barley porridge with stew, the recipe of which is useful to you in the country, will certainly enjoy the ease of preparation.

Required Products:

  • 1 glass of pearl barley;
  • 2 standard cans of quality stew;
  • 2 medium carrots;
  • 2 onions;
  • coarse salt and coarse black pepper;
  • 80 ml of vegetable oil;
  • favorite seasonings and spices;
  • some fresh herbs.

How to cook cereal with pearl barley:

  • Heat oil in a cauldron and fry the onion sliced ​​in half rings and freshly carrot grated on a coarse grater until golden and ruddy.
  • Add washed and soaked pearl barley and continue to fry until its sides are slightly fried, and until it is saturated with oil and vegetable juices.
  • It is good to salt the dish, add black pepper and your favorite seasonings, mix and pour in the water so that it covers the cereal. Simmer for about half an hour. Then add a good stew and mix the dish thoroughly again.
  • The cauldron can be covered with a lid and the marching cottage dish can be darkened for another 15-20 minutes.
porridge in a cup

Culinary tips and tricks

  • In order for pearl barley porridge, the recipes of which were offered, to turn out to be very tasty, it is necessary to rinse and soak the cereal well. It is recommended to prepare barley the next day, in sufficient quantities of cold water in the evening.
  • You can add an appetizing and bright color to the dish by adding a little turmeric or sweet paprika when cooking. Remember to write down the recipe for delicious pearl barley porridge.
  • As for meat, you can use any kind, and even the flesh of beef, pork with fat and connective tissue. When stewed for a long time, the fat will melt and the meat will become soft and juicy. The fatter it is, the tastier the dish will turn out.


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