Herbed Barley Recipes

Steps:

• Bring barley and 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until barley is tender, about 40 minutes. Drain if necessary and let cool.
• In a medium skillet, toast cumin seeds over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add oil and shallots to same skillet and heat over medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are golden and crispy, about 9 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; reserve oil.
• Combine turmeric, lemon juice, and reserved toasted cumin seeds and oil; season with salt and pepper. Add to barley along with herbs and dates. Stir to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with crispy shallots.

Steps:

• Bring barley and 3 cups water to a boil. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until barley is tender, about 40 minutes. Drain if necessary.
• Meanwhile, place shallot in a large bowl, and whisk in mustard, oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Stir in barley and herbs. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Combine water, garlic and barley in a large pot.
• Bring to boil and then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until barley is tender.
• Drain excess water.
• To make dressing, combine mustard, garlic and vinegar.
• Whisk together, then slowly whisk in olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Combine half of dressing with warm barley.
• Stir in vegetables and herbs.
• Toss with remaining dressing.
• Season to taste.

Steps:

• Cook barley in a medium pot of boiling salted water until tender, 50-60 minutes for hulled or hull-less, 20-30 minutes for pearl. Drain; spread out on a baking sheet and let cool.
• Meanwhile, cook shallots in vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally to keep shallots from burning, until golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels to drain; season with salt. Let cool. Set shallot cooking oil aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high until just beginning to smoke. Arrange mushrooms in skillet in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until undersides are golden brown, about 3 minutes. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper, toss, and continue to cook, tossing often and reducing heat as needed to avoid scorching, until golden brown all over, about 5 minutes longer.
• Reduce heat to medium and add thyme sprigs, garlic, and butter to skillet. Tip skillet toward you so butter pools at edge and use a spoon to baste mushrooms with foaming butter; cook until butter smells nutty. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a small bowl, leaving thyme and garlic behind.
• Toss cooled barley, cilantro, parsley, lemon juice, 1 1/2 oz. Parmesan, and 2 Tbsp. reserved shallot oil in a large bowl to combine; season with salt and pepper. Add mushrooms; toss again to combine.
• Just before serving, top with fried shallots and more shaved Parmesan.
• Do ahead
• Barley can be cooked 1 day ahead. Let cool; store airtight and chill. Dish can be made 3 hours ahead; store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-14 minutes or until vegetables and barley are tender. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Saute onion in oil in a large saucepan until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Stir stock, water, barley and thyme into onions. Bring to boil; lower heat; cover and simmer about 25 minutes or until liquid has been absorbed and barley is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley.

Steps:

• Heat a 3- quart saucepan over medium-high heat and add barley. Toast in the pan, shaking pan or stirring grains until they begin to smell a little bit like popcorn. Add water and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste (I suggest 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon for 1 cup barley), reduce heat, cover and simmer 45 to 50 minutes, until barley is tender (it will always be chewy). Drain off any liquid remaining in the pot through a strainer (set it over a bowl if you think you might want to use the barley water in a stock or risotto - it'll keep for a day in the refrigerator). Shake strainer and return barley to the pot. Cover pot with a clean dishtowel and return the lid. Allow barley to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roast asparagus and make dressing. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Snap off woody ends of the asparagus and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Add olive oil and salt and pepper to taste and toss together until all of the asparagus is coated with oil (I do this with my hands). Make sure that asparagus is in one layer on the baking sheet in the pan and place in oven. Roast for about 12 minutes, or until tender and beginning to shrivel. It should be browned in spots. Remove from heat.
• Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, salt, lemon zest, garlic, and mustard. Whisk in olive oil.
• Transfer cooked barley to a large bowl. Add herbs and vinaigrette and toss together until barley is evenly coated with dressing. Arrange on a platter or on plates. Lay stalks of roasted asparagus on over the top, and serve.