Method of preparing pearl barley. How long should you cook pearl barley to preserve all the vitamins?

17.10.2019

Crumbly, the recipe for which will be discussed below, is great side dish for meat, goulash or regular mushroom gravy. There is nothing difficult in preparing such a dish. However, it should be noted that in order to get the most delicious dish, you must follow all the requirements of the recipe.

Crumbled pearl barley porridge: recipe for step-by-step cooking on the stove

Most people don't like pearl barley porridge. This is due, first of all, to the fact that it almost always turns out fresh. But if you prepare this dish correctly, you will forever change your opinion about it.

So, step by step recipe crumbly pearl barley porridge requires the purchase of the following components:

pearl barley - 1 cup;
cold drinking water - 3 glasses;
butter - 2-3 large spoons;
sea salt - to taste.

Cooking process

How is crumbly pearl barley porridge prepared? The recipe for this dish does not recommend using grits, as they often contain pebbles and other debris. Therefore, to prepare such a side dish, it is better to use pearl barley in a package. It should be washed thoroughly in warm water, after placing it in a sieve.

Having achieved transparency of the liquid, the product is placed in a large saucepan and filled with cold drinking water. In this form, place the dishes on the stove and bring the contents to a boil. After 5 minutes the water is replaced. To do this, the old liquid is drained using the same sieve.

Carry out this process 3 or 4 times. It is necessary to remove mucus as much as possible.

Finally, the product is poured again clean water, bring to a boil, add salt and cook for an hour (it may take a little longer).

After the grains have significantly increased in size and become soft, they are thrown into a sieve and washed thoroughly cold water. Then the pearl barley is shaken vigorously and scalded with boiling water.

Serving the dish to the table

After the described steps you should have delicious porridge pearl barley (crumbly). The recipe for this side dish calls for adding it to barley scalded with boiling water and mixing well. In this form, the dish is served to the table along with a glass of milk and a piece of bread with cheese.

Step-by-step recipe for crumbly pearl barley porridge in a slow cooker

If you have a multicooker, then you can cook pearl barley porridge using it. For this you will need:

pearl barley - 1 cup;
Cold drinking water - 3 glasses;
butter - 4 large spoons;
onions and carrots - 1 piece each;
sea salt - to taste.

Preparing the Components

Crumbly pearl barley porridge, cooked in a slow cooker, turns out very tasty if you make it together with frying. To do this, take onions and carrots, peel them and cut them into small cubes. Then the ingredients are placed in a multicooker bowl, seasoned with oil and fried in baking mode for 20 minutes.

As for pearl barley, it is prepared exactly as described above. The cereals are thoroughly washed and then de-mucilaged by draining the water several times.

Cooking method

After preparing all the components, immediately begin cooking the dish. To do this, the processed cereal is placed in the container of the device, and then drinking water is added to it and sea salt. In this composition, barley is cooked in porridge mode for 50 minutes. If your multicooker does not have such a program, then you can use “Stewing”. However, in this case, the timer must be set 10 minutes longer.

After the pearl barley becomes soft, add previously fried vegetables to it, mix well and leave to heat.

The prepared porridge is ideal for quality or sausages.

Making porridge in the oven

How to prepare crumbly pearl barley porridge in the oven? You will find the answer to this difficult culinary question in the following sections of the article.

So, to implement the presented recipe we will need:

Preparing the components

Crumbled pearl barley porridge in a pot turns out tender and nutritious. This dish will serve as an excellent lunch or dinner not only for adults, but also for children.

Before you start preparing pearl barley porridge, the cereal must be properly processed. To do this, wash it thoroughly in warm water (until the liquid becomes clear), and then put it in a deep bowl. If you want to cook pearl barley as quickly as possible short terms, then it is recommended to pre-soak it. This is done using ordinary drinking water. It is better to keep the cereal in it for half a day. During this time, it should absorb as much liquid as possible.

After this, it is recommended to process the pearl barley exactly as described in the first recipe. In other words, the product must be boiled, drained, refilled, boiled, drained, etc. This process will allow the cereal to lose mucus as much as possible.

Heat treatment

After processing the cereal, it is laid out and salted. Then the pearl barley is poured whole cow's milk and mix well. Finally, throw a piece of butter into the pot, cover with a lid and place in a preheated oven. Cook in this way for 80 minutes (at a temperature of 200 degrees). If necessary, periodically stir the pearl barley with a large spoon so that it does not burn to the bottom of the dish.

After the cereal becomes soft and absorbs the milk drink, the pots are removed and, without opening, wrapped in a towel. In this form, the porridge is left aside for ¼ hour.

Serve for lunch

Having prepared a delicious crumbly one, it is distributed on plates and served to the table (you can directly in pots). In addition to this tasty and nutritious dish, you are presented with a sandwich with bread, butter and cheese, as well as a glass of berry jelly or sweet tea. Bon appetit!

healthy eating, physical culture is in fashion now. Therefore, it’s time to remember pearl barley, open the pantry of protein and other useful things. And at the same time, learn how to cook pearl barley in water correctly.

This is a fundamental question in the case of pearl barley. After all, a skeptical attitude towards it is only the result of improper preparation. It will depend on the skill of the cook what he will present to the table - hard shrapnel or soft and boiled porridge, tender and very tasty.

Pearl barley must be handled delicately, not boiled, but softened. In the first case, each grain will close in on itself, frightened by the rapid onslaught. And in the second, he will soften, open up and gratefully give away all his wealth.

Serving pearl barley porridge can be embellished with interesting historical stories. About how Peter the Great loved her, about how he fed her healthy porridge his miracle heroes Alexander Suvorov. And in our time the king - porridge is the main character at porridge festivals. The history of the pearl barley dish goes back centuries, so there is a fascinating story for everyone age categories and combine business with pleasure.

I can recommend chicken cutlets as a side dish; I liked the recipe on the website http://firstcook.ru/kurinye-kotlety.html

Also, if for some reason you change your mind about cooking pearl barley, you might want to cook it.

We also have a lot to do exciting journey into the world of properly prepared pearl barley. After which you can write your own story about the discovery of an amazing pearl of Russian cuisine.

So, let's go!

Barley is so nutritious that it can easily be an independent dish in the form of porridge. It is used for side dishes and for making soups. Both the proportions and methods of preparation will depend on the final goal.

Barley takes longer to cook than other grains. But she herself will “help” the cook at all stages. And as a result, it will also reward everyone for their patience with extraordinary taste. It will give strength, relieve fatigue, and lift your spirits. And for health pearl barley porridge– a real source of vitamins. Moreover, it is rejuvenating, helping to lose a couple or three extra pounds.

Let's prepare the pearl barley so that it appears in all its glory and rightfully takes its royal place on the dining table. If you approach the process responsibly once, you won’t need to be persuaded a second time. You will realize that this is the only thing the right recipe. Moreover, active working time will require about twenty minutes, no more.

What secrets are hidden in the correct preparation of the mysterious cereal?

In principle, there are few of them, and they are the simplest:

Pearl barley must be soaked in water. This will allow it to “straighten its shoulders,” swell, and clear away the unnecessary surface layer. Be fully prepared for the main process. The optimal amount of time for soaking is 10 – 12 hours. In the most extreme case - at least 3-4 hours, but this is just for every fireman. Well, if we have agreed to cook according to all the rules of culinary science, let’s focus on the optimal option. You need to soak in the following ratios: pour one glass of cereal with a liter of cold water. A two-hundred-gram glass is used as a basis.
It is advisable to cook in a water bath. Perlovka will languish and reveal all her abilities. And the finished product will be incredibly soft. In addition, the porridge will not run off or burn. You will only need to check the amount of water in the “bath” from time to time.
You need to add salt at the very end, 10 minutes before cooking.
Water hardness also affects the taste of barley, as well as any other porridge. To avoid spoiling the finished product, barley should be poured hot during cooking. boiled water, or pour into boiling water
A small amount of butter added to the water at the very beginning of the simmering process will help soften the water and improve the quality of the culinary product. 30 grams will be enough if we are talking about a glass of cereal. Butter can be replaced with vegetable oil. In such an environment, the grains will not close in on themselves and turn into a solid “bullet”. By repelling water, they will boil as desired, opening like a rosebud. Sorry for such allegories, but it’s really true
To achieve desired result, you need to maintain the appropriate proportions.

I would like to dwell on the proportions in more detail.

If you want to prepare crumbly pearl barley, then for one glass of cereal you need to take two glasses of water
For porridge - spread, the amount of water increases: for a glass of cereal, take three glasses of water.
Crumbly grains will be good for a side dish, while the spread is better suited for a stand-alone dish. But, as they say, this is not for everybody.

Let's prepare the products

Glass of pearl barley
Liter of water for soaking
Fifty grams of butter (of which 30 for cooking, 20 for adding to the finished dish)
Two glasses of boiling water

Soaking cereals. It's best to do this at night.

First, you need to wash the cereal. Pour into a bowl, fill with cold water in an arbitrary amount. Wash by rubbing the grains with your hands. Imagine that you are freeing every grain from the husk
Drain the water. Repeat the procedure again - the better you rinse, the more freely the pearl barley will breathe
Pour a liter of cold water over the cereal - set aside to swell
After the allotted time has passed, the grains must be thoroughly washed. Drain the water until all the remaining top layer is gone. It would also be a good idea to rinse under running water using a colander.

This concludes the preparatory stage. Let's begin the main process. In order to organize a water bath, we need two pans different sizes. Build a sauna taking into account safety precautions.

Choose comfortable pans. Because the porridge will have to be stirred sometimes. For example, it worked out like this for me: the smaller pan acted as a source of steam, and the larger pan served as a simmer for the porridge. By the way, select a bowl for porridge taking into account the fact that the cereal will increase in size. A two-liter saucepan is quite suitable for a glass of cereal. I would like to note right away that the cooking process should take place over moderate heat.

Step-by-step process for preparing pearl barley in water

Place the pan in a water bath.
Send the soaked cereal into it
Pour in the required amount of boiling water (2 or 3 cups, depending on the desired type of porridge)
Add 30 grams of butter
Stir, open the lid slightly and be free for a while
Check occasionally and make sure that the water in the bath does not boil away
The crumbly porridge will take approximately one hour to prepare; the porridge, naturally, will take longer. When there is very little water left in the pan with porridge, salt the barley to your taste, stir, taste
Let it simmer until the water has completely evaporated.
When ready, remove from steam. Leave to infuse for about twenty minutes. During this time, our porridge will reach full condition.
When serving, sprinkle with butter.

Everything is ready! You have figured out how to cook pearl barley in water according to all the rules. Exactly as the luminaries advise national cuisine. You are a real cook!

Pearl barley on the water. Instant recipe without soaking cereals

Without begging for the benefits of soaking and a water bath, we note that it is possible to prepare pearl barley in water without these procedures. You never know what happens in life. Maybe you urgently need to prepare a pickle, for example, which is unthinkable without pearl barley. So you need to have a quick recipe at your disposal.

We are preparing a classic set of products for crumbly porridge

Glass of pearl barley
Thirty grams of butter
Two, two and a half glasses of water

Preparation

Place a saucepan with water on the fire. At this stage, the amount of water does not need to be measured. It will have to be drained (so as not to rack your brains, pour in four glasses)
While the water is boiling, thoroughly rinse the cereal under running water.
Place the pearl barley into boiling water and let it simmer for five to ten minutes.
Carefully drain the water, place the cereal in a colander, and rinse
Put the saucepan on the fire again, pour in the measured amount of water
Bring to a boil, add butter
As the water and oil boil, add the cereal and mix
Reduce the heat to low, open the lid slightly, and simmer the barley. In time it will be about an hour
When there is very little water left in the pan, add salt to the porridge, stir, and let it cook
When ready, remove from heat and let sit for about thirty minutes. Evaporate, so to speak.

If you want to taste pearl barley porridge, add a little butter. It will be delicious. At the same time, compare the two cooking methods and choose the best option for yourself.

Include in your home menu barley more often, and you will feel how it fills the body with energy and life-giving force. Cook with love! And the royal dish will reciprocate!

Barley is a very nutritious and healthy cereal; it is not for nothing that pearl barley porridge is part of the menu for the military, hospitals, schools and kindergartens, since at a low cost we get a tasty, satisfying product filled with useful substances. New technologies are advancing and there is huge amount kitchen appliances that help housewives in preparing food. In addition to simply boiling barley porridge in a saucepan on the stove, we will look at several more options for preparing barley using modern kitchen appliances: a multicooker, a steamer, a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, a microwave and an oven.

How long to cook pearl barley

Depending on the method of cooking and preliminary preparation of the cereal, pearl barley is prepared different times. Taking into account pre-soaking the cereal for 1-2 hours, the cooking time will be:
In a slow cooker – 1 hour;
In a saucepan - 50 minutes;
Microwave – 25-30 minutes;
Steamed and in a double boiler – 40-50 minutes;
In a rice cooker – 1 hour;
In a pressure cooker - 15 minutes.

Preparing pearl barley for cooking
Be sure to wash the grain well, preferably in large quantities running water to wash away excess accumulated on the surface of the grain (after processing, transportation, packaging).

To ensure a better cooking result and to speed up the cooking process of the cereal, after washing it should be soaked to swell. There are several options: water, kefir, yogurt, or steam it in a thermos and let it brew. If the grains are not pre-soaked, it will take more time to cook (you will have to cook longer).

Since the taste of cereal is universal, the finished porridge can be made salty or sweet, to taste. We also recommend that you read the cooking instructions on the package (if there are any) - perhaps the manufacturer gives its recommendations for preparing a specific cereal.
The container for cooking should also be selected accordingly, since when soaked, the cereal doubles in size, and when heat treated, at least four times, this must be taken into account.

How to cook pearl barley in water

1. Make preliminary preparation cereals and let it brew for a couple of hours.

2. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container.

3. Add water at the rate of 1 cup of cereal to 3 cups of water.
4. Place over medium heat and cook for about 50 minutes.
5. Be sure to try, when the pearl barley becomes soft, it’s ready.

6. If desired, you can add a little sunflower, olive or any other vegetable or butter. Salt and spices to taste.

How to cook pearl barley with milk

1. You will need 1 glass of pearl barley and 4 glasses of milk.
2. Rinse and soak the cereal in water for 2 hours.
3. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container.
4. Pour a small amount of water over the cereal, let it simmer for about 15 minutes, drain the water.
5. Pour hot milk and cook until done.
6. Add butter. Salt, sugar and spices to taste.

Barley in a slow cooker

1. Rinse the pearl barley well and soak in water for at least 1 hour.
2. Drain the water, rinse the cereal and place it in the multicooker bowl.
3. Add water at the rate of 1 cup of cereal 2.5-3 cups of water.
4. It is necessary to cook in the “Milk porridge” mode; if there is no such mode, then select it individually. The approximate cooking time should be about 1 hour; select the mode for your multicooker model based on this time.
5. After cooking, the porridge is seasoned with oil or topped with gravy.

You can also cook pearl barley porridge with meat in a slow cooker (after cutting it into small pieces). Salt and spices to taste.
You can cook pearl barley porridge with milk in a multicooker - the recipe is the same, only pour milk into the multicooker bowl instead of water.
The undoubted advantage of multicookers is the “delayed start” function; you can set a timer and, without applying special effort get fresh porridge for breakfast, or enjoy it when returning from work, again using the timer correctly.

How to cook pearl barley in the microwave

Since a microwave is not the main kitchen appliance for cooking, this method must be approached with great responsibility and dealt with, first of all, technical characteristics. The more powerful the equipment, the less time it will take to prepare. The cooking utensils must be special, for microwaves (it is not recommended to place and heat metal containers and containers with metallized elements), the bowl must be heat-resistant glass or plastic.
1. Rinse the cereal and soak in water for 1 hour. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container.
2. The ratio of cereal and water is 1 part to 3 parts.
3. Place the container in the microwave and cook at full power for 10 minutes, then take out the porridge, add salt and spices to taste, and put it in the microwave again.
4. Next, cook at full power, periodically removing the bowl and stirring - for more even cooking of the cereal. It is convenient to choose 10-minute intervals to fully control the process and monitor the degree of readiness of the cereal. Cook until done.

If you cook pearl barley in the microwave with milk, then pour hot milk over the porridge and do not cover the bowl with a lid during cooking. You also need to be careful not to overheat the container with liquid so that the milk does not overflow beyond the bowl.

How to boil pearl barley in meat or vegetable broth

1. Wash the cereal, soak in water for 1-2 hours. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container.
2. Add broth based on volume - 1 cup of cereal 3 cups of broth. The broth should be unsalted, as the amount of liquid will decrease significantly during cooking.
3. Cook over medium heat for about 40-50 minutes. Salt and spices to taste.

How to steam barley

In a steamer
1. Soak the washed cereal in water for 12 hours (leave overnight).
2. Drain, rinse and place in a porridge container in a steamer.
3. Add water at the rate of 1 cup of cereal 2 cups of water.
4. Set the cooking timer for 30 minutes, after this time, add salt and stir the porridge, put it on cooking for another 20-30 minutes, until ready.
5. Salt and spices to taste. The texture of the finished porridge from a steamer is particularly tender and does not require additional components (you don’t need to add oil). Due to the wide variety of steamers, you need to take into account the features of different models and power; perhaps the cooking time will be reduced or increased.

Steamed in a pan
Prepare: a saucepan with a lid, a sieve the size of the saucepan. Rinse the cereal first and soak it in water for 12 hours. Drain, rinse and place the pearl barley in a sieve to cook.

Pour a small amount of water into the pan, place a sieve on top, but the water level should not come into contact with the sieve. Cover with a lid and cook until the pearl barley is ready, about 40-50 minutes. It is important that the water does not boil away! Salt and spices to taste.

Other methods for preparing pearl barley

In the rice cooker
Pre-prepare the cereal and let it sit in water for at least 1 hour. If the cereal is not pre-soaked in water, the cooking time will increase at least twice. Drain, rinse and place in rice cooker container. Cooking time – 1 hour. The proportions remain the same - for 1 glass of cereal you need 3 glasses of water. After the allotted time, you can add salt and spices to taste. If you have free time, it is advisable to leave the porridge warm for 10-20 minutes (directly in the rice cooker).

Barley in a pressure cooker
Soak the cereal in water for at least 1 hour. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container. With the lid open, the cereal should boil, salt and spices to taste are added immediately, only after that the lid is closed and the porridge is cooked until tender. The cooking mode is selected according to the instructions, but the cooking time takes about 15 minutes. Unique system Cooking with a pressure cooker makes the process lightning fast compared to other kitchen appliances.

Methods for cooking pearl barley in the oven

This method of cooking goes back to ancient times, when the oven (Russian oven) was the main method for preparing hot dishes. Now it is very important to resort to old recipes and technologies, especially since this method also preserves as much as possible the beneficial composition of any products that are cooked in the oven. The utensils in which the dish will be prepared are also important - it can be one large saucepan with a lid, a large heat-resistant pot or a set of portioned pots (the dishes should not have plastic elements and be heat-resistant).
Make a preliminary preparation of the cereal and let it steep in water for 12 hours. Drain, rinse and place in a cooking container. You can cook porridge in the oven using water, milk or broth; salt and spices are added at the beginning of cooking, since the dish is cooked under the lid, all steam should remain inside and fill the dish with flavor. With this method of cooking, “in a pot,” you can immediately add meat. All ingredients will be ready at the same time, resulting in a balanced and very tasty dish.

When choosing the method and type of preparation, the dish for which the pearl barley is prepared plays an important role. Pearl barley, like many others, is a universal grain, thanks to which it can serve as both the main ingredient of a dish and an additional one.

Barley soup

Since pearl barley takes quite a long time to cook, for first courses it is recommended to boil it separately until fully cooked or until half cooked. To do this, you need to sort out the pearl barley, rinse it in running water (until the water becomes clear) and soak it for several hours or leave it overnight (do not forget that when soaked, the barley swells, enlarges and absorbs water, so you need to choose a voluminous container). For first courses, it is recommended to cook pearl barley in water or steam, without adding oil. If cereal is added directly when preparing soup, then you must be sure of its quality. Stale pearl barley will take much longer to cook than fresh barley, but in any case, the barley needs to be soaked before cooking.

Special attention I would like to give a dish like this Rassolnik with pearl barley. This dish has a long history and is very loved in our country. In addition to cucumbers, barley also plays an important role in the soup. We propose to consider the three most common methods of preparing pearl barley for this dish; they are also suitable for preparing other soups with barley.
In all cases, before cooking, the cereal must be sorted and washed in plenty of water until the water becomes clear.
1. 100 grams of pearl barley and 300-500 milliliters of water.
Pour 300 milliliters of cold water and leave overnight. In the morning, drain the remaining water, rinse again, add fresh water, and cook over medium heat until tender.
2. 100 grams of pearl barley and 400 milliliters of water.
Pour in hot water and bring to a boil. Drain the boiling water, add hot water again and cook over low heat until tender. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse.
3. 100 grams of pearl barley and 500 milliliters of water.
Add cold water and leave to steep for at least 30 minutes or 1 hour. After the time has passed, drain the remaining water, rinse, add hot water and cook over medium heat until the cereal is ready.
I would like to clarify that ready-made pearl barley can be added to soup, both hot and cold. That is, you can prepare pearl barley in advance and use it as needed. If you wish, you can even freeze it in portions and not spend extra time boiling the pearl barley if you need to quickly prepare Rassolnik.

Appetizers and salads with pearl barley

Almost any salad or appetizer can be made into a more satisfying dish thanks to pearl barley. But in order for the dish to look presentable and appetizing, the cereal must be cooked correctly. For salads and snacks, cereals should be boiled in water, avoiding complete boiling. If the barley is cooked and ready, but the water has not evaporated, drain off the excess, cover the pan with a lid and let the barley brew in a warm place for about 15 minutes. After cooking, do not add oil. Barley goes well with fresh vegetables, mushrooms, meat and cheese. To dress salads you can use: yogurt, sour cream dressing, homemade mayonnaise, vegetable oils.

Chicken breast salad
Chicken breast – 1 piece
Blue onion – 1 piece
Cucumber – 1 piece
Lettuce leaves – 5 pieces
Yogurt (unsweetened) for dressing

Salt and pepper to taste.
Boil the chicken breast until cooked. Boil pearl barley in chicken broth. Disassemble the boiled meat into fibers, cut the onion and cucumber into arbitrary pieces. Tear lettuce leaves into a wide dish with your hands and place on top chicken breast, cucumbers and onions. Drizzle with unsweetened yogurt.

Beet salad.
Beets – 1 piece
Beans – 1 handful
Sauerkraut – 5 tablespoons
Onions – 1/2 pieces
Vegetable oil
Pearl barley prepared in the salad method – 4 tablespoons
Salt and pepper to taste.
Boil beets and beans until tender. Cut beets and onions into small cubes, add beans, cabbage and pearl barley, season with aromatic vegetable oil.

Main courses with pearl barley

Methods and options for preparing pearl barley as an independent dish were mentioned earlier in the article. Now let's talk in more detail about the combination of pearl barley with other products for preparing second courses.
Delicious side dish It’s easy to make from regular pearl barley.
First you need to boil the pearl barley itself until tender in any way suitable for you. In another bowl, make the base - fry the onions and carrots, add tomatoes, a little water or broth if necessary, simmer over low heat, add the prepared pearl barley, stir and heat for a few minutes.
There are many options for supplementing this basic idea: you can add zucchini, eggplant, fresh corn, green peas, boiled beans or other legumes. You can use fresh tomatoes instead tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. You can prepare the mushroom base in the same way. To do this, first boil the mushrooms and then fry them, adding onions, carrots, celery root or parsley, add water or broth and heat well. At the end of cooking, add the prepared pearl barley, mix all the ingredients and simmer over low heat.

You can also diversify the main courses by adding cereals to stuffed dishes . Perlovka is not inferior taste qualities any other cereal, but many do not dare to replace, for example, rice in cabbage rolls or meatballs. You need to improve the long-familiar taste of dishes and experiment. Stuffed cabbage rolls, meatballs, meatballs, stuffed vegetables and any other dishes that we are used to in classic version It’s easy to enrich it with a new taste simply by replacing the usual cereal with pearl barley. The main thing is to prepare the cereal correctly so that it does not lose its attractive shape during the cooking process. For dishes that will subsequently be subjected to long-term heat treatment, the cereal must be cooked until half cooked, for example, cabbage rolls are stewed for half an hour, so the pearl barley must initially be undercooked so that it does not lose its shape during stewing.
A striking representative of second courses made from pearl barley is Perlotto or Orzotto (from the Italian orzo brillato, perlato), meaning the preparation of the famous Italian Risotto using pearl barley. If you are preparing Risotto main role plays the variety of rice, then with pearl barley everything is simpler, it initially has a structure that is ideal for preparing a very sophisticated dish using Italian technology.

Orsotto (perlotto)
Pearl barley – 100 grams
Vegetable broth – 600-800 milliliters
Onion – 1 piece
Garlic – 2 cloves
Wine – 100 milliliters (white semi-dry)
Preparing the dish begins with preparing the cereal, which must be washed well and soaked in water for at least 1 hour, then drain the water and rinse the cereal again. It is also necessary to prepare the broth in advance; it can be meat, vegetable or seafood, and it must also remain hot. Chop the onion and garlic, sauté in a small amount of olive oil or vegetable oil. Add pearl barley, pour in wine, let the alcohol evaporate. Add broth little by little and simmer the cereal over low heat; the liquid gradually evaporates and needs to be replenished by adding broth. In this way, bring the dish to readiness, the pearl barley should not turn into porridge, the shape should be preserved, but the structure will become creamy and the grain will become soft. There is no need to rush and add a lot of liquid, the process should proceed gradually. In the middle of cooking, after about 15-20 minutes, you can add additional components that will decorate and diversify the taste, for example, sun-dried tomatoes, or seafood, mushrooms or something to your taste. Very tasty and original dish ready, serve hot.
Very common and delicious dish is pilaf, which can also be prepared from pearl barley. The cooking technology is completely preserved, only pearl barley is used instead of rice.

How to make dessert with pearl barley

Pearl barley, like many other grains, has a neutral taste, so it can be either salty or sweet. The process of preparing barley for dessert begins in the standard way: rinse the barley, soak in water (milk or curdled milk) for at least a couple of hours or overnight. The boiling process depends on the characteristics of the desserts. For puddings, casseroles, baked goods with the addition of cereals, barley needs to be boiled to destroy the structure of the grain and give it a more sticky consistency. To prepare sweet porridge, pearl barley does not need to be digested, it is a matter of taste. Sweet pearl barley porridge is perfectly complemented by any fruit, dried fruit and berries.

Barley dessert with dried fruits.
Pearl barley – 1/2 cup
Water – 1 glass
Fruit juice – 1 glass
Dried fruits
Jam
Sugar, vanilla, cinnamon - to taste
Wash and pre-soak (1 hour) cereal, add 1 glass of water and cook over medium heat; when the amount of liquid reduces, add juice and cook until tender. At the end of cooking, add dried fruits, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon to taste and a pinch of salt. Before serving, pour over jam.
Pearl barley porridge is an excellent sweet breakfast. To do this, you need to prepare the porridge with milk, season with butter, add sugar, vanilla and a little cinnamon. Serve with jam or condensed milk.

What should you pay attention to when choosing and purchasing cereals?
The regions where this crop grows are different, so pearl barley has differences. Appearance pearl barley can range from light, even whitish, in color and round in shape, to oblong in appearance and gray. The age of the cereal also plays an important role; if the crop is harvested recently and the grain is fresh, the cooking time is reduced, but if the cereal has been stored for a long time, then it will take much more time to prepare. Therefore, when buying cereal, it is imperative to check the production date and expiration date, since this product can be stored for up to 1.5 years; unscrupulous suppliers may not take this into account.

Interesting facts
Pearl barley is made from a grain crop called barley. Cereals are undestroyed grains that have undergone external processing (cleaning and grinding), that is, a greater amount of useful microelements is retained. This processing method brings pearl barley to one of the first places among cereals.

Pearl barley was named so because its grains look like pearls (French “pearl” - pearl).

Since time immemorial, pearl barley has been used to prepare hearty and healthy dishes.

Pearl barley contains essential vitamins such as A, PP, B, E, lysine, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, easily digestible protein, fiber, etc.

The vitamins included in pearl barley improve immunity, strengthen nervous system, bones, teeth, preserve vision, normalize metabolism

Cereals rich in lysine help in the production of collagen, which, as many ladies know, prevents the formation of facial wrinkles and helps keep the skin smooth and elastic.

Fiber, which is part of the cereal, cleanses the body of toxins and waste, prevents the formation of fat reserves, which is why it is also called dietary porridge.

Why do many people frown when it comes to pearl barley porridge? Many men who served in the army probably still remember it with a shudder.

The answer is obvious, they just forgot how to cook it.

The whole secret is to soak the cereal for at least 10 hours, followed by cooking and simmering for 6 hours in a water bath.

This is good, but in our 21st century of speed, you want to cook in a way that is healthy, tasty and quick.

How to cook pearl barley porridge in water

To prepare pearl barley porridge, pour 2 cups of salted water into a bowl.
Pour in 6 tablespoons of pre-washed cereal
Cook over low heat until it thickens
Add 100 g of butter and place in the oven for 30 minutes until done.

Barley porridge with milk without soaking the cereal

Bring pre-washed 100 g of pearl barley to a boil and add 5 cups of salted water to taste
Cover and cook for 1 hour over low heat until all the water has evaporated, or drain it if it remains after the cereal swells.
Pour 3 cups of milk, preferably 1% fat, and add 1/4 cup of sugar.
Cook for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the porridge is ready
Then add cinnamon or raisins if desired and to taste.

Barley porridge cooked in a slow cooker

Wash a glass of pearl barley thoroughly
Fill with 1 liter of cold water and set for 12 hours to swell
Wash the pearl barley again and transfer it to the multicooker bowl.
Add 1 liter of boiled milk 1% fat, salt and sugar to taste
Select the “quenching” mode for 3 - 4 hours
When finished, set the “heating” mode for the same time.
Add butter to the prepared porridge, mix well

How to cook pearl barley porridge with stew

To experience the full aroma and taste of this porridge, of course it is better to cook it outdoors, but it can also be done well at home.

Soak one and a half cups of pearl barley for 4 hours, so it cooks faster
We put the pan on the fire and put the fat from the stew into it
Lightly fry 2 finely chopped onions
Lay out the soaked cereal, 2 cans of stew, mix everything
Fill with salted water so that it covers the cereal
Cover and cook for about 40 minutes until the cereal is tender
You can add water if necessary

Wash and soak 400 gr. cereals in cold water for 3 hours
300 gr. Set the meat on the bone to cook, add salt to taste first
After the meat is cooked, separate it from the bones; do not pour out the resulting broth.
Three heads onions finely chop
Chop one carrot and put everything in a deep pan
Add the meat to the vegetables, then the swollen barley
Add meat broth and cook for 40 minutes

How to cook pearl barley porridge for those who want to lose weight

The condition for dietary porridge is that it is boiled in water without salt or butter.

A simple diet takes 2-3 days, and you need to drink plain water, green tea, before going to bed, you can drink low-fat kefir.

In the future, you can diversify the menu by adding steamed dried fruits, fish, lean meat, low-fat cottage cheese, and vegetable salads. Be sure to drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

How to cook delicious pearl barley

Let's summarize everything said above into a rule for how barley is cooked.

The fact that this cereal is very healthy is beyond doubt, but it takes a long time to prepare
Before preparing porridge, soak the cereal in cold water for several hours.
While soaking, be sure to rinse it several times.
To obtain crumbly porridge, boil 1 cup of cereal in 1 liter of water
Don’t spare any butter in this porridge, this is exactly the case when “You can’t spoil porridge with butter”
When the cereal is ready, it is advisable to leave the porridge on low heat or simmer in a water bath
Barley can be used in soups, as a side dish for meat and fish dishes, cook porridge
Porridge can be prepared with meat, chicken, vegetables, milk, mushrooms and even fruits, there are many additives

Barley - contraindications

There are a number of restrictions when consuming pearl barley dishes, and people with high stomach acidity, constipation, pregnancy, and digestive dysfunction should be careful about eating it.

I think, nevertheless, that pearl barley porridge deserves all the expenses that are necessary for its preparation, because it is very filling, at the same time allows you to lose weight, and contains the vitamins and microelements necessary for a person.

Cook it and pearl barley porridge will not disappoint you.

Pearl barley is a simple, inexpensive and undeservedly forgotten grain by many. Meanwhile, it can become not only an excellent side dish for meat, fish, mushrooms or vegetables, but also the basis of many salads, appetizers and soups. What can I say, pearl barley can be very tasty, even if you just flavor it with a piece of butter and sprinkle with herbs.

A little about this cereal

It is no secret that many people now treat pearl barley with slight contempt, believing that porridge from this grain is prepared exclusively for soldiers. How unfair is this! It’s not for nothing that it got its romantic name from the word “pearl”, which is translated from French means "pearl". And if we take a closer look at its rich vitamin composition, then this cereal is rightfully a pearl among all the others.

It has everything to ensure that the human body is always healthy and the body beautiful. For gorgeous hair and clear skin, vitamin B, for strong teeth and bones, vitamin D, vitamin A will improve vision and protect against infections, and vitamin E will prolong your youth.

For those who don’t know, let us immediately explain that pearl barley refers to whole ground barley grains, and unprocessed crushed grains are called barley grains.

So, let's start cooking! The main thing is to cook the porridge correctly, and then you will become friends with it for a long time. Especially for those who cannot find the right approach to cereal, we will tell you in detail how to cook pearl barley in water. In the recipe you will find not only detailed step by step description process, but also photos.

Taste Info Second: cereals

Ingredients

pearl barley – 1 cup;
water for soaking cereals – 1 l;
water for cooking cereals - from 2.5 glasses (depending on the desired viscosity of the porridge);
salt - to taste;
butter - to your taste when serving.

How to cook pearl barley porridge in water on the stove

It is not recommended to cook pearl barley in water without soaking, otherwise it will take a very long time. The cereal must first be soaked in water and then the cooking process will be halved.

Measure first required quantity cereals and sort them out, since even in the best factory packaging there may be small pebbles and debris.

Then pour it into a fine-hole colander or sieve and rinse thoroughly under cool running water. During the rinsing process, constantly sort the grains with your fingers. Next, place the washed pearl barley in a container of a suitable size and also fill it with cool water.

Leave the pearl barley in the water for at least 5 hours, ideally overnight. During this time, the cereal should increase significantly in size. After soaking, place it in a colander (sieve) again and rinse thoroughly. Now the clean and swollen pearl barley is ready for cooking.

Bring the water in a saucepan to a boil and add the cereal.

The proportions of water and cereal depend on the viscosity of the porridge you want to obtain as a result. For example, how much water do you need for a glass of pearl barley? For crumbly porridge, take 2.5 glasses of water; for porridge of medium viscosity - the ratio will be 1:3; for a very viscous messy porridge (many remember it from kindergarten) – from 3.5 glasses to a liter of water.

Cover the saucepan with the pearl barley tightly and place it on the burner set to maximum heat. As soon as the contents of the pan begin to gurgle intensely, turn the stove to low heat and, without removing the lid, let the barley boil for 25 minutes.

When the specified time has passed, lift the lid: from above the porridge seems completely ready, the top of the cereal has already completely absorbed the water, but there is still a little liquid left at the very bottom. Salt the porridge to your taste (usually 1 teaspoon is enough), stir gently and return the lid to its place.

Simmer the porridge on low heat on the stove for another 10 minutes, then turn off the burner, but do not remove the saucepan from it yet, let it steam for 5-7 minutes, and the pearl barley porridge on the water will be ready!

It is better to serve pearl barley hot or warm. Season it with butter, and perhaps also a handful of herbs. Or serve the porridge as a side dish with meat (fish, mushroom) gravy and vegetables in any form.

The porridge will turn out especially tasty, and the grains will remain intact if you first lightly fry the cereal in a dry frying pan.

Pearl barley porridge is best cooked in a thick-walled container. Barley will turn out good in a double boiler or. But there's another one interesting way, try it, and this porridge will forever become your favorite. In the morning, place the cereal soaked in the evening in clay pots and pour boiling water over it (the liquid level should be 2-2.5 cm above the cereal). Do not cover with lids and place in the oven, preheated by this time to a temperature of 100-120 degrees. After this, bring the temperature in the oven to 200-220 degrees and from this point leave for 40 minutes. Serve directly in the pots, adding salt or sugar and butter to taste.

You can cook porridge in a water bath. First, boil for 15 minutes, then place the bowl with the cereal in the bathhouse, wrap and evaporate for 30-40 minutes.

Pearl barley produces not only good porridge, you can cook many interesting dishes with it:

soup with dried mushrooms or;
porridge with chicken hearts or with chicken and vegetables;
Christmas kutya;
or with ;
cabbage rolls;
perlotto (this is something like risotto, but not with rice, but with pearl barley);
barley cutlets;
barley with meat in pots in the oven.