Asparagus Barley Pilaf Recipes

BARLEY AND HERB SALAD WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS

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.

BARLEY PILAF WITH BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. Cool, then refrigerate. , Drain skillet, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings. In drippings, saute barley, onion and mushrooms until barley is lightly browned and vegetables are tender. , Transfer to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Stir in broth and pepper. Cover and bake 1 hour. , Stir in bacon; bake 5-10 minutes or until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed.

BASIL AND PARSLEY ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in boiling water in large uncovered skillet on medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain well. Place on serving dish.
• Stir parsley, basil and pepper into melted butter. Pour over asparagus. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• In a large pot of boilingsalted water, cook pearl barley until tender but stillal dente, about 35 minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieveand rinse with cool water to stop the cooking.
• In a large skillet, melt unsalted butter over medium-high. Add shallot, minced, and season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Cook until softened, about 2 minutes; add barley and stir to combine. Transfer barley mixture to a largebowl and stir in toasted pine nuts, finely chopped fresh parsley, and freshlemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

ASPARAGUS CASHEW RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Increase heat to medium, and stir in spaghetti, cooking until coated with the melted butter and lightly browned.
• Stir onion and garlic into the saucepan, and cook about 2 minutes, until tender. Stir in jasmine rice, and cook about 5 minutes. Pour in vegetable broth. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and cook 20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed.
• Place asparagus in a separate medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender but firm.
• Mix asparagus and cashew halves into the rice mixture, and serve warm.

BARLEY AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat broth over medium heat until hot.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion and carrot in oil 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir in barley. Cook and stir 1 minute.
• Pour 1 cup of the hot broth over barley mixture. Cook uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed. Stir in asparagus. Continue cooking 15 to 20 minutes, adding broth 1 cup at a time and stirring frequently, until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed; remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients.

ORZO-BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• In 2-quart nonstick saucepan, heat broth, water, thyme and salt to boiling. Stir in mushrooms, orzo and barley. Return to boiling.
• Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 to 18 minutes or until orzo and barley are tender and liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in onions and lemon peel. If desired, season to taste with pepper.

COCONUT BARLEY PILAF WITH CORN, CHICKEN AND CASHEWS

Steps:

• Cut chicken into 1-inch chunks; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden and almost cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in cashews and cook 1 minute more. Transfer mixture to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot. Stir in onions and jalapeño and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until onions are slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in barley and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook 1 minute more. Add enough water to coconut milk to yield 2 cups liquid and add to pot. Bring liquid to a simmer, then cook, covered, over low heat until the barley is almost tender, about 40 minutes.
• Stir in corn. If mixture looks dry, stir in 1 1/4 cups more water; cover and cook until barley and corn are tender, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Return chicken mixture to pot and stir well. Fold in herbs and more salt to taste.

ROASTED BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• In a heavy, medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add barley and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. The barley should start to brown and give off an aroma.
• Add shallots, and cook for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock and salt. Bring to a boil; then turn down heat to a bare simmer. Cover, and cook for 45 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
• Stir well, season with pepper and more salt, if needed, and serve immediately.

BARLEY PILAF WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Chop the onion and add to the pot.
• Peel and chop the carrots and garlic. Add them to the pot as you go.
• Add the thyme and stir to incorporate.
• Rinse the barley in a strainer and and add to the pot. Toast for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the water, vegetable base, and salt.
• Turn the heat to high. When the water boils vigorously, reduce the heat to low, cover, and boil gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, clean and trim the asparagus. Chop into bite-sized pieces. Grate the parmesan cheese.
• Test the barley after 20 minutes. It should be soft but still chewy. Cook for 5 minutes more if you like it more tender.
• When the barley is done to your liking, add the asparagus and stir to incorporate. Cook covered for 1 minute and then remove from the heat and remove the lid.
• Add lemon juice and pepper. Top with parmesan cheese.

MUSHROOM BARLEY AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Put the barley in a medium pot with water to cover by a few inches and salt it generously. Tie the thyme sprigs, parsley stems, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot, along with the lemon peel. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and remove the herbs and lemon.
• Meanwhile, toss the mushrooms with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl. Whisk the remaining lemon juice with the mustard, remaining salt, and pepper, to taste, in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick vinaigrette. Add the shallots.
• Toss the mushrooms, barley, and the dressing together. Stir in the chopped herbs. Set aside at room temperature for about 1 hour for the flavors to come together.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spread the spears in a single layer in a shallow baking pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roll to coat thoroughly. Roast the asparagus until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes, giving the pan a good shake about halfway through.
• Spread the roasted asparagus on a serving platter. Spoon the barley salad on top and serve.
• Per Serving: Calories: 258; Total Fat: 14 grams; Saturated Fat: 2 grams; Protein: 7 grams; Total carbohydrates: 29 grams; Sugar: 4 grams; Fiber: 8 grams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams; Sodium: 689 milligrams

BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• Melt butter or margarine in a large saucepan.
• Stir in onion, celery and mushrooms; saute until tender (about 5 minutes).
• Stir in barley and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned.
• Add bouillon, water and pepper; heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 45 to 55 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and barley is tender.
• Or place barley mixture in covered casserole and bake at 325 degrees until liquid is absorbed and barley is tender.
• Meanwhile, wash spinach thoroughly.
• Steam 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir into cooked barley mixture.
• Cook until heated through.

BARLEY AND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the celery, red pepper, onions and garlic in oil until crisp-tender. Stir in the rice, barley, bacon, salt and pepper; cook and stir until heated through.

LEMONY VEGETABLE BARLEY PILAF

Steps:

• Barley -- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat and add the onion and a little salt and pepper. Saute just 4-5 minutes. Add in the barley and cook another 2-3 minutes until coated with the onion butter mixture.
• Stir in the broth and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce to low, and cover. Cook until just about tender, it will take about 20-25 minutes (follow the directions for cooking the barley).
• Vegetables -- Add in the red pepper and asparagus, cover and cook another, 3-4 minutes until tender. The asparagus and red pepper do not take long to cook Remove, stir in the lemon juice, zest, scallions and taste for salt and pepper, mix well, re-cover for a couple of minutes and serve.

BARLEY AND CHARD PILAF

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the barley, oregano, and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the barley is tender and the water is absorbed.
• In another medium saucepan, bring the remaining 1/4 cup water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the chard. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the chard is tender. Drain well in a colander. Set aside.
• Pour the oil into the pan the chard was in. Heat over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the shallots and bell pepper for 4 minutes, or until tender, stirring frequently.
• Stir in the tomatoes, lemon juice, chard, and barley. Cook, uncovered, for 1 minute, or until the tomatoes are hot, stirring frequently.
• Nutrition information
• (Per serving)
• Calories: 91
• Total fat: 1.5g
• Saturated: 0.5g
• Trans: 0.0g
• Polyunsaturated: 0.5g
• Monounsaturated: 1.0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 66mg
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugars: 2g
• Protein: 3g
• Calcium: 30mg
• Potassium: 246mg
• Dietary Exchanges
• 1 starch