It's no secret that porridge is very useful for human health, but barley porridge is often overlooked. And completely in vain! After all, pearl barley porridge can be not only healthy, but also tasty, you just need to cook it correctly.
1. Useful properties of pearl barley
Pearl barley is made from whole barley grains, peeled from the shell.
Even in ancient times it was compared to a river pearl, hence it got its name - pearl. Barley is very rich in useful vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, E, D, and B-groups increase the metabolism and metabolic processes of the body, and also have a beneficial effect on the health of the skin, hair, nails and teeth. Groats have a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanses the body of toxins, promotes rejuvenation, has an enveloping, diuretic and antispasmodic effect. Barley broth is often used in folk medicine to treat skin diseases, inflammation and allergies. The thing is that the soaked barley releases the substance hordecin. It is a natural antibiotic that helps in the treatment of fungal diseases. The calorie content of pearl barley cooked in water is 109 calories per 100 grams of product, so it must be included in the diet of overweight people. Therefore, it is advisable to include it in the diet for the whole family as often as possible.
2. Barley porridge on the water in the classical way
Ingredients:
- pearl barley - 1 glass;
- soaking water - 1 liter;
- cooking water - 3 glasses;
- salt - 0.5 tsp;
- butter.
Step by step cooking:
- Rinse the pearl barley through a sieve under running water
- Soak the barley for a few hours or overnight
- Rinse again, fill with cold water and place on the stove
- When the water boils, reduce the heat, cook the cereals, stirring occasionally for 45 - 60 minutes
- Add butter at the end of cooking
- Remove from heat, wrap with a towel and let the porridge brew for 15 - 20 minutes.
This recipe for barley porridge in water is a classic. It can be a hearty breakfast, as well as a side dish for a meat or vegetable dish.
3. Barley porridge on the water. Fast way
Many housewives do not like to cook barley porridge because of its long cooking. This recipe describes an easy and simple way to boil barley in water without soaking.
Ingredients:
- pearl barley - 1 glass;
- water - 4, 5 - 5 glasses;
- salt - 0.5 tsp;
- vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. l.
Step by step cooking:
- Sort the pearl barley and rinse several times under running water
- Pour 3 cups of cold water into a saucepan, add washed pearl barley
- Bring the groats to a boil and simmer for 6 - 8 minutes
- Then drain the water and discard the barley in a colander
- Pour two glasses of water into a saucepan, add salt, a spoonful of vegetable oil and bring to a boil
- Add the pearl barley and cook, stirring occasionally, until the water has completely evaporated (about 20-30 minutes)
- At the end of cooking, add butter or ghee
- Cover the pot with a towel and let the porridge brew for 10 to 15 minutes.
Then the pearl barley porridge on the water will turn out delicious and crumbly.
4. Barley porridge on water with meat
To prepare this recipe, you can use any meat, but pearl barley porridge with beef or pork turns out to be especially tasty.
Ingredients:
- pearl barley - 1 glass;
- beef - 500 gr.;
- salt - 1 tsp;
- vegetable oil - 30 ml;
- onion - 1 pc.;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- butter - 20 gr.;
- Bay leaf;
- ground black pepper;
- soaking water - 1 liter;
- cooking water - 3 glasses.
Step by step preparation of pearl barley porridge with meat:
- Sort the pearl barley and rinse several times under running water
- Place the barley in a deep bowl, cover with drinking water and soak overnight
- Rinse swollen cereals and transfer to a saucepan
- Cover with cold water, salt and place over medium heat
- As soon as the water boils, reduce heat and cook until tender, 45-60 minutes.
- Defrost the meat, wash, cut the veins
- Cut into small pieces
- Peel the onion and cut into half rings
- Peel the carrots and grate on a coarse grater
- Put a preheated frying pan or cauldron with a thick bottom on the stove
- Pour in sunflower oil and add a piece of butter (homemade)
- Place beef with vegetables in the pan
- Fry, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender
- At the end of frying, add bay leaves, salt and pepper
- Combine meat with vegetables with barley porridge, stir and simmer over low heat for ten minutes.
This dish will become juicy, provided that the amount of meat and vegetables is equal to the amount of cooked cereals. If, nevertheless, the porridge turned out to be dry, you can add a little ordinary water or broth to it. This dish is best paired with mushrooms or vegetable salad.
5. Barley porridge with vegetables
This recipe makes a very tasty and tender pearl barley with vegetables. This dish perfectly combines the tastes of tender zucchini and sweet carrots.
Ingredients:
- pearl barley - 1 glass;
- carrots (large) - 2 pcs.;
- onions - 2 pcs.;
- garlic - 3 cloves;
- zucchini - 2 pcs.;
- vegetable oil 6 - 7 tbsp. l.,
- salt - 1 tsp;
- ground black pepper to taste;
- greens.
Step by step preparation of pearl barley porridge with vegetables:
- Sort the pearl barley and rinse several times under running water
- Place the barley in a deep bowl, fill with drinking water and soak for 5 - 6 hours
- Rinse the groats, cover with cold water, salt and set
- Cook over medium heat until almost cooked.
- Peel and wash carrots, onions and garlic
- Cut the courgettes into small cubes
- Pour sunflower oil into a preheated pan
- Grate the carrots on a coarse grater and fry them over medium heat
- Cut the onion into half rings and add to the carrots
- Add the sliced courgettes and stir. Simmer vegetables over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes
- Add a little water while braising and simmer for another 2 - 3 minutes
- At the end, add finely chopped garlic
- Combine stewed vegetables with ready-made barley porridge
- Stir, add black pepper and fresh herbs to taste
- Simmer the dish for another 3 - 5 minutes over low heat
- Wrap the pan with a towel and let the porridge brew for 10 to 15 minutes.
Barley porridge with vegetables can be served as a side dish or as an independent dish.
7. Barley porridge in the oven with dried fruits
This hearty and vitamin-rich dish will be beneficial for children, athletes and people with weakened immune systems.
Ingredients:
- pearl barley - 1 glass;
- soaking water - 1 liter;
- cooking water - 3 - 4 glasses;
- lemon or orange zest - 1 tsp;
- lemon juice - 2 tbsp. l.;
- sugar, salt, cinnamon to taste;
- raisins - 50 gr.;
- dried apricots - 30 gr.;
- prunes - 30 gr.;
- dates - 20 gr.;
- dried apples -20 gr.;
- nuts 10 gr.
Step by step preparation of pearl barley porridge with dried fruits:
- Sort the pearl barley and rinse several times under running water
- Place the barley in a deep bowl, cover with drinking water and soak overnight
- Wash dried fruits, cut into small pieces
- Put the prepared pieces of dried fruit and rinsed cereals in a deep baking sheet or baking dish. Choose dishes for baking with the expectation that the pearl barley porridge will boil down and increase in volume
- Lay out a layer of cereal first, then a layer of dried fruit
- Sprinkle each layer lightly with sugar, salt and cinnamon. The number of layers depends on the size and volume of the baking dish.
- Salt water and pour into a mold with porridge. The water should cover the entire mass
- Preheat the oven to a temperature of 150 degrees, bake porridge with dried fruits for one hour.
The finished porridge turns out to be very fragrant and tender. If desired, pour over it with lemon juice, garnish with nuts and berries.
