Name: Toasted barley risotto with broccoli Recipe
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 2 to 4
Ingredients: 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup pearl barley; 2 large shallots, minced; 1 large clove garlic, minced; 2 cups trimmed broccoli florets, separated into small buds; 2 teaspoons butter; Salt, pepper

Print RecipePrint Recipe

By Abby Mandel

Nov. 29, 2000

Whole grains add crunch and nutty flavor to dishes. Here I use barley in a rich-tasting risotto with broccoli, millet in Cheddar-buttermilk biscuits and wheat berries in a flavorful chicken salad. These recipes may give you ideas for adding whole grains to pancakes, muffins, quick breads, soups, stews and casseroles.

Whole grains such as barley, millet and oat groats should be softened by soaking or cooking. Drained, they may be stored in a plastic bag five days in the refrigerator or a month in the freezer.

Read More Read Less

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup pearl barley

2 large shallots, minced

1 large clove garlic, minced

2 cups trimmed broccoli florets, separated into small buds

2 teaspoons butter

Salt, pepper

Bring broth to a boil, then decrease heat so it simmers and stays hot.

Heat oil in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add barley. Cook, stirring often, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add shallots and garlic. Cook until just starting to soften, about 2 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup broth. Simmer, uncovered, stirring often with wooden spoon, until most--but not all--of broth is absorbed. Continue adding 1/2 cup broth and cooking in this manner until barley is tender, about 20 minutes total. Toward end of cooking, add the last broth cautiously to avoid having excess liquid when barley is done. Risotto should be creamy but not runny. (Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Gently reheat over low heat until hot, stirring constantly and adding hot broth or water as needed.)

To serve, stir broccoli and butter into hot risotto; cover and set aside until broccoli is just starting to get tender, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot.