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White bowl with cooked barley grain.

How to cook different types of barley: step-by-step instructions

Nataliia
Learn how to cook different types of barley with detailed step-by-step instructions and helpful tips. As a result, you will have tender and chewy hulled, pearl, or quick barley to add to salads, bowls, soups, and more.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Course dinner, lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Eastern European
Servings 6
Calories 135 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Measuring Cup
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer
  • 1 medium pot with lid

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup barley (hulled or pearl)
  • 3 cups filtered water
  • teaspoon salt optional

Instructions
 

  • Soak hulled barley for at least 2 hours or better overnight. Skip soaking if using pearl barley. Rinse barley a few times under cold water.
  • In a medium pot, add 3 cups of water, 1 cup of barley and some salt. Bring to boil, cover, and simmer hulled barley for about 45-60 minutes or pearl barley for 30-45 minutes. The barley is cooked when most of the water is absorbed, the grain is slightly chewy and tender. Drain the access water if needed.
  • Serve as a side dish with butter or olive oil.

Notes

  • rinse barley before cooking
  • soak hulled barley for at least 2 hours
  • hulled barley is a whole grain

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3.5gFat: 2gSodium: 65mgFiber: 7g
Keyword hulled barley, pearl barley
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