Barley Recipes

Barley is a nutty, chewy pantry grain that adds body and comfort to soups, stews, grain bowls, pilafs, and warm salads. It is especially useful in recipes where you want a satisfying texture that holds up well to long cooking.

Pearled barley cooks faster and is the most common type for everyday recipes, while hulled barley is less processed and takes longer to soften. Use barley as a base for vegetable soups, mushroom barley risotto, beef stew, roasted vegetable salads, or savory breakfast bowls.

Because barley releases starch as it cooks, it can naturally thicken brothy dishes. For separate, fluffy grains, cook it like pasta in plenty of salted water and drain once tender.