I never had tried Pearl Barley before. I knew it was a new substitute for rice, and when I found this recipe for a Pearl Barley Risotto I decided that I had to try it.
I found this recipe in a cookbook I received for Christmas Ottolenghi's Jerusalem. I have to admit that I am not really a recipe follower. Rather I take inspiration from different recipes, consider the method and different flavors and then adapt it to whatever I have in the fridge at the moment.
However on my blog the recipes are how I cooked them, not what the cookbook recipe said 🙂
This recipe is surprisingly easy to prepare. I was hoping that the Pearl Barley could act as a low carb rice substitute, but from looking at some of the other nutrition website it does not seem to be the case. However this dish is heavenly creamy, filling and full of flavors. I will put this in my vegetarian drawer ready for my father-in-law's next visit.
Source: Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi's Jerusalem
Recipe
Pearl Barley Risotto with Tomatoes, Spinach and Feta
Ingredients
- 200 gr (1 cup) pearl barley
- 25 gr (2 tablespoon) butter unsalted
- 50 ml (3.5 tablespoon) olive oil
- 2 small red onions diced
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 bayleaf
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 400 g (14 oz) tin chopped tomatoes
- 500 ml (2 cups) vegetable stock (affiliate link)
- 500 g (2 cups) passata
- 200 gr (7 oz) spinach
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 300 gr (10 oz) feta broken up roughly
Instructions
- Rinse the pearl barley under cold water and leave to drain
- Melt the butter in a large flying pan with 2 table spoons of olive oil and fry the onions and garlic on a low heat for 5 minutes or until browned.
- Add the barley, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, zest, chilli flakes, tomatoes, stock, passata and salt to the pan. Bring to boil and then reduce heat and leave to simmer.
- Leave to simmer for about 45 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the barley is tender.
- Before taking the risotto off the heat stir in the spinach leafs. (They only take 2 minutes to cook).
- Place the feta into a bowl. Add 1 table spoon of olive oil and mix in the oregano.
- Once the risotto is cooked add salt and pepper if desired. Divide into bowls and top with the feta mixture.
Nutrition
Kathleen says
I absolutely love this recipe, it is one of my regular dishes ... whenever I have served it to my meat eating family they all love it.... the flavour of the spices, the zing of the lemon zest and the creaminess of the feta ( I use vegan feta ) all combine wonderful...
Marita says
Hi Kathleen, oh great! I love that you enjoy this recipe. Thanks for your comment.
Al says
I like it! I'm sure together with the feta an interesting mix of flavours!!
Marita says
Thanks Al, I love feta and put try to put it into as many dishes as I can x
Jennifer Philipp says
Wow, this recipe looks so good, with the spinach and salty feta. I love the idea of using pearl barley, but haven't cooked with it before. It looks really delicious, but nutritious as well. 🙂
Marita says
Thanks! Have a go. It was surprised how easy this recipe was. Glad you like it.
Frau Dietz (Eating Wiesbaden) says
I love pearl barley, and I love love love Yotam Ottolenghi 😀 I haven't tried this recipe yet but it looks really good - I'll have to bookmark it for future reference.
Marita says
Thanks, yes I bought the Jerusalem book and I am going to be preparing some of the dishes in dear future and reviewing them here x