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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Barley Breakfast Porridge

    Published: Jan 10, 2023 · Modified: Mar 7, 2023 by Nataliia

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for some new breakfast ideas? Try this hearty and delicious barley breakfast porridge with added almond milk, nuts, seeds, and honey. The porridge can be made ahead of time to enjoy throughout the week.

    A spoonful of grain porridge cereal with milk, pepitas and pecans.

    Breakfast porridge is a healthy way to start your day. It's comforting, filling, and healthy. I love a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast, but it can get old if you eat it every day. I offer you to change up your breakfast routine by trying this barley cereal.

    It quickly became one of my favorite nutritious breakfasts that keeps me full and energetic until lunch.

    Barley has three times more fiber than oatmeal and the lowest glycemic index out of all the grains. 

    There are a few different Types of Barley, that have different nutrition profiles and require different cooking times. 

    I always use Pearl or Hulled Barley. Hulled barley is a whole grain with only the outer shell removed and requires soaking and more cooking time. Pearl barley cooks faster but the grain has barn and parts of endosperm removed, which makes it a little less nutritious. 

    I often make a big batch of Barley in Instant Pot and keep it refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to serve it, just add milk and reheat it in a microwave or a small saucer pan. 

    Barley grain porridge in a white bowl with added milk, pecans and pumkin seeds.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients 
    • How to make pearl barley porridge
    • Cooking and storing tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Other recipes with grains
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients 

    Please, see the recipe card below for ingredients quantities. 

    • Pearl Barley - you can also use hulled barley to make the recipe. Cooking Hulled Barely requires soaking and more time to time. 
    • Water - use filtered or tap water to simmer the grain.
    • Milk - I add unsweetened almond milk. You can use any other dairy-free or cow's milk for the porridge. 
    • Add-ons - I love adding a pinch of cinnamon, some honey (or brown sugar), roasted pecan halves, and pumpkin seeds to my bowl. You can add anything you like, including chia or hemp seeds, berries, or sliced bananas. 
    Labeled recipe ingredients on a white background. Pearl barley, pecans and pepitas, water, milk, honey, cinnamon.

    How to make pearl barley porridge

    Step 1. Rinse barley a few times to get rid of possible dust and dirt. In a medium saucepan, add rinsed barley and water. Bring it to a boil, and simmer covered on low for about 40 minutes or until the barley is cooked.

    A stainless steel pot on a cutting board. There is cooked barley and a spoon with scooped grain.

    Step 2. Divide cooked barely between the bowls, and add milk, pecans, seeds, honey, and cinnamon. 

    Note: if you prefer your porridge hot, add milk to the pot with cooked barley at the end.

    A milk being poured in the bowl with cooked barley, nuts and pumpkin seeds.

    Cooking and storing tips

    • Rinse barley well before cooking.
    • Barley is cooked when most of the water is absorbed, and the grain is tender but slightly chewy.
    • Make a large batch and store cooked barely in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. 
    • You can portion and freeze cooked barley for up to 3 months.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is barley gluten-free?

    No, barley contains gluten and should be avoided if you are following a gluten-free diet.

    Is barley porridge healthy?

    Yes, barley porridge is an excellent source of dietary fiber, manganese, selenium, and Vitamin B1. Barley has a low glycemic index of 28. It can keep you full and energetic for a prolonged periods.

    Other recipes with grains

    • Instant Pot Buckwheat
    • Instant Pot Millet
    • Mushroom Barley Risotto 

    📖 Recipe

    Barley grain porridge in a white bowl with added milk, pecans and pumpkin seeds.

    Barley Breakfast Porridge

    Nataliia
    Looking for some new breakfast ideas? Try this hearty and delicious barley breakfast porridge with added almond milk, nuts, seeds, and honey. The porridge can be made ahead of time to enjoy throughout the week.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American, European
    Servings 2
    Calories 207 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Medium Pot
    • 1 Measuring Cup
    • measuring spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup pearl barley
    • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 2 Tablespoons pecan nuts
    • 2 teaspoons pepitas
    • by taste cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse and drain pearl barley. In a medium pot, add 1 cup of barley and 3 cups of water. Bring to boil and simmer covered on low for about 40 minutes or until barley is tender and water is absorbed.
    • Divide barley between two bowls. Add milk, cinnamon, pecans halves, pepitas and honey. Enjoy your barley breakfast bowl.

    Notes

    • keep cooked barley in the fridge and warm it up when ready to make the bowl.
    • if you prefer a hot porridge, add milk to the pot after the barley is cooked.
    • you can add different nuts, seeds, berries.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 33.6gProtein: 5.7gFat: 7.2gSodium: 64.7mgFiber: 3.7gSugar: 5.7g
    Keyword barley breakfast porridge, barley cereal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    A young woman image from heat to the waist. She has long brown hair and wearing a leather jacket over a dark blue t-shirt. She is smiling and looking at the lens of camera.

    Hi there, I'm Nataliia. I am a content creator behind Sava's Kitchen. Here, you will find a lot of healthy family-friendly recipes. My focus is to create versatile nutritious recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Learn more about me by clicking below!

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