Hearty Barley Recipes

August 26, 2019
Barley is a nutritious and hearty whole grain that’s inexpensive to prepare. Our healthy recipes for barley risotto, barley salad and barley soup are loaded with fiber and easy to cook. Try our Barley Hoppin’ John tonight for a quick Southern-inspired meal or Cream of Mushroom & Barley Soup for a satisfying whole-grain supper.Download a Free Rice Recipe Cookbook!
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Barley Hoppin' John

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Traditionally made with rice, this classic Southern dish gets great toothsome texture here from quick-cooking barley instead. Serve with a green salad.

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Wild Mushroom & Barley Risotto

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In this pungent mushroom risotto, we substitute fiber-rich barley for the more traditional arborio rice. Any combination of mushrooms will work; if you use shiitakes, remove the stems from the caps before using.

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Spring Chicken & Barley Soup

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You might think of barley as an addition to hearty, wintery soups, such as mushroom-barley or beef-barley soup, but it also works well in lighter soups like this one with chicken, asparagus and peas.

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Bacony Barley Salad with Marinated Shrimp

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Here's a great example of how to cook a healthy dish in minutes--simply cook the bacon in the same pan as the barley to enrich the flavor, add some purchased cooked shrimp, a few aromatic vegetables, and you've got dinner (or a hearty potluck dish) in no time flat.

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Barley Risotto with Fennel

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This convenient alternative to traditional stovetop risotto uses healthy, fiber-rich whole grains--either barley or brown rice--seasoned with Parmesan cheese, lemon zest and oil-cured olives. The gentle, uniform heat of a slow cooker allows you to cook a creamy risotto without the usual frequent stirring.

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Sugar Snap Pea & Barley Salad

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You get two sides in one with this dish--whole-grain barley along with crisp matchsticks of vitamin- and fiber-rich snap peas. Serve with roasted or grilled salmon or chicken.

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Butternut & Barley Pilaf

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Winter squash contributes a rich, full flavor to a simple barley pilaf. Gremolata, an Italian mixture of parsley, lemon zest and garlic, gives the dish a lively finish. The pilaf is an excellent accompaniment to chicken and pork, but would stand on its own with the addition of Parmesan.

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Cream of Mushroom & Barley Soup

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This sophisticated take on creamy mushroom soup is rich with earthy porcini mushrooms and has the added goodness of whole-grain barley.

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Barley & Wild Rice Pilaf with Pomegranate Seeds

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This pilaf melds the chewy texture of barley and wild rice with the richness of toasted pine nuts and the sweet-sour crunch of pomegranate seeds. The elegant dish is perfect for entertaining.

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Quick Beef & Barley Soup

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Quick-cooking barley and sirloin help get this beef-and-barley soup on the table in a snap--and it doubles easily. If leftovers get too thick in the fridge, add a little broth when you reheat it. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of malbec.

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Roasted Beet & Barley Salad

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Barley matches up with earthy, tender beets and the crunch of fresh celery, radishes and nuts in this beet salad recipe. Red beets turn your salad a gorgeous magenta. For a softer color, use golden or chioggia baby beets instead.

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