Pearl barley today for some reason undeservedly devoid of attention and popularity, although it is very useful and, with proper preparation, can be very tasty. But often, the use of pearl barley is refused only because of a certain labor intensity in its preparation, but simply speaking - it is cooked for a long time.
But, firstly, with desire and skill, this time can be reduced, and secondly, pearl barley is still worth it, since it contains vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, lysine and fiber, it also has a low glycemic index (20), which provides long-term satiety.
And the nutritional value of barley is such (324 Kcal / 100 g. Of cereal and 22 Kcal / 100 g. Of finished porridge) that it is shown to everyone at once - from children to the elderly.
General rules for boiling barley
Cooking barley porridge is based on two main points - the proportions of cereals and water and the cooking time. So, to get a crumbly porridge, you need to stick to the ratio of one to two - one part of barley and two parts of water.
To make porridge viscous, you need to take a liter of water into a glass of barley.
And you can vary in this corridor the ratio of liquid and cereal, resulting in a porridge of the desired consistency.
In general, without soaking and other manipulations on boiling barley porridge leaves from an hour to one and a half, which also depends on different moments - grain size, barley variety, thickness of the pan, as well as the time when the cereal was grown, because the longer it was stored the longer it will cook. Plus, today you can find steamed cereals, which are cooked faster (according to the instructions on its packaging).
How much time and how to cook barley without soaking
For the classic version of the preparation of pearl barley you need only three components - water, grits and salt. Before cooking, pearl barley should be well washed in cold water until it is transparent, otherwise welded barley can be slippery and sticky.
Next, the grits need to be filled with water in the right ratio and put first on high heat, waiting for the boil, and then reduce the heat to medium and boil the barley, stirring occasionally. After an hour, you can try it "on the tooth" and, if necessary, continue cooking for some time.
As an option, you can immediately turn off the heat and leave the porridge on the hot stove for 20 minutes, during which time it will still reach the desired condition.
How to cook barley without soaking in the soup
In principle, it is desirable to pre-soak the pearl barley for soups, but if for some reason this did not work out, then, according to the rules, the cereal is dipped in the soup first after the meat is ready and cooked for at least half an hour.
After that, potatoes, roasting, other vegetables are added, depending on what kind of soup is being cooked, and everything is cooked together until ready. Although it is desirable to boil the pearl barley separately from the soup and add to it at the end, then the broth will be transparent.
How to cook barley without soaking in a slow cooker, steamer, microwave and thermos
Since progress does not stand still and the hostesses have received many different kitchen appliances for their use that make their lives much easier, why not apply such innovations to the cooking of pearl barley? Household appliances can really help in this.
- Multivarka.
To cook the barley in a slow cooker, you must first rinse the grits well and lubricate the bowl with oil, and then pour it with water at the rate of one to three. Next, it will be necessary to choose one or another mode on the multicooker - it can be “Cereals”, “Buckwheat” or “Milk porridge”. Usually in this mode, the dish is prepared for about two hours.
- Double boiler.
This is the most delicate method of cooking pearl barley, in which he retains the most vitamins and nutrients, but at the same time one of the longest.
The ratio of products is the same - for a glass of pearl barley three glasses of water - all this is laid in a double boiler (cereal must be washed before) and cooked for a specified time or until ready. You can first set the timer for 40 minutes, then mix the barley, salt and turn on the steamer for another 40 minutes. If necessary, add some water.
- Microwave.
Perhaps this is the fastest way to prepare barley: it takes from 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the power of the microwave. To cook the cereal in it, you need to put 1 glass of barley in a glass bowl, pour 1.5 cups of boiled water (salted if desired), cover all with a lid and put on medium power.
In the process of cooking you need to mix several times to grits cooked evenly.
- Thermos.
Many people use a thermos for soaking pearl barley and speeding up the boiling time, but in fact it can be fully cooked in a thermos without spending almost any time, but simply leaving it overnight. For this 8 tbsp. spoonful of cereals need to fill 700 ml of water, or just pour the liter thermos to the end, and in the morning crumbly porridge will be ready.
How many boil barley without soaking for pickle
Traditionally it is believed that the pearl barley for pickle must first be cooked, and add to the already almost ready soup. There are several options for such cooking cereals:
- Pour a glass of washed pearl barley with 300 ml of water and put on the fire until boiling, then pour this water and pour another 500 ml, add salt. After boiling, reduce the heat to low and cook the grits until ready - it will take about an hour;
- Pour 100 gr. washed barley 200 ml of boiling water and put on high heat, bring to a boil and reduce the temperature, boil the cereal for 30 minutes. Add the finished cereal to the pickle together with the pledged vegetables.
Recipe for pickle with pearl on meat broth
Ready meat broth should be brought to a boil, salt, reduce the temperature and add chopped potatoes, grated on a coarse grater onions and carrots, as well as pickles, cut into strips.
When the vegetables are almost ready, add the pearl barley cooked in one of the above recipes and cook the soup until ready for another 5-10 minutes. Serve ready rassolnik need hot, with the addition of herbs and sour cream.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of beef broth;
- 150 gr. potatoes;
- 100 gr. pickled cucumbers;
- 50 gr. onions;
- 50 gr. carrots;
- 50 gr. barley;
- salt to taste
Cooking time: taking into account the boiling of cereals - 1 hour.
Calorie dishes: about 40 Kcal / 100 gr.
A simple way to cook barley porridge on water with soaking
To prepare for breakfast a delicious and healthy barley porridge, you can soak the cereal at night in the ratio of 1 cup per 1 liter of cold water. During this time, barley will swell, increase in size and already acquire a certain softness.
Then you will need to rinse the cereal again and pour it already with hot water in the ratio of 1 to 1.5 and cook over low heat under the lid for about half an hour. If you wish, you can then cover the pan with a blanket and leave the porridge to rest for another half an hour, but this is not necessary.
When the porridge is ready, it will remain to add butter, mix and serve.
Ingredients:
- 200 gr. pearl barley;
- 40 gr. butter;
- salt and pepper to taste.
Cooking time: from 30 minutes to an hour plus time for soaking the cereal.
Calorie dishes: about 110 Kcal / 100 gr.
Thus, we can conclude that it is absolutely not worth refusing to use pearl barley in your diet, because the question of the duration of its preparation is not really so acute. It is not necessary to stand over the porridge, it can calmly boil on the stove or in one or another piece of household appliances, while other household chores will be done.
In addition, there is the option of fast-cooking barley in a microwave oven, which you definitely should not forget. And this cereal can significantly diversify and enrich the daily menu - cereals, soups and other dishes with barley turn out very tasty and healthy.
In the next video - another recipe for making barley porridge.
