Pearl barley porridge with water

Pearl barley porridge is familiar to every Russian person, because it was consumed in ancient times. We will tell you in this article how to properly and tasty cook pearl barley porridge in water, why it is remarkable and useful.

People have different attitudes towards pearl barley porridge. This simple dish contains phosphorus, which has a beneficial effect on mental activity. Pearl barley is an excellent antioxidant, prevents the growth of cholesterol, and is involved in the production of collagen. You should definitely fall in love with hearty porridge, and this is possible only when the dish is prepared according to all the rules.

Pearl barley is obtained by processing barley using a certain technology. Cereals are classified as annual plants. If the grains are ripe, they are yellow-gray, light brown and sometimes greenish.

Calorie content, benefits and harm, dietary fat, glycemic index

Cooked pearl barley in water is a low-calorie food product. This porridge is recommended for everyone who chooses a proper and healthy diet and is also afraid of gaining weight.

The calorie content of 100 grams of pearl barley porridge is 109 kcal, while the BJU ratio is as follows:

proteins – 3.1 g;
fats – 0.4 g;
carbohydrates – 22.2 g.

However, the calorie content of porridge increases if it is cooked with milk. In this case, the energy value of the dish is 155 kcal. 100 g of pearl barley with butter contains an average of 140 kcal. A serving of porridge with salt will have less calories – 108 kcal.

How to cook pearl barley porridge in water in a saucepan: recipe with soaking

Pearl barley, made from barley grain, is quite hard, so it takes a long time to boil. To speed up the process, many housewives pour water over the cereal overnight to soften the structure of the product.

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
salt – 0.5 tsp;
water - liter;
butter – 40 g.

Preparation:

Pearl barley should be washed thoroughly in cold water.
Place the cereal in a saucepan, add water and leave for 10-12 hours. During this time, the pearl barley will swell, becoming quite soft, and will cook faster.
Place the cereal in boiling water and start cooking (you need to salt the porridge at the end). You can add a piece of butter, thanks to which the cereal will have a delicate, pleasant taste, and it will not stick together.
You need to cook pearl barley porridge with frequent stirring. This will make it easier to determine the readiness of the dish. This usually takes 25-30 minutes. You can try pearl barley. When the grains are sufficiently boiled, add salt.
All that remains is to remove the pan from the stove, cover with a lid and wrap in a towel. Barley porridge should simmer for about half an hour.

Note! Pearl barley cooks well, increasing almost five times in volume. This should be taken into account when choosing a pan and using cereals. In addition, before cooking, pearl barley must be washed in cold water, rinsed thoroughly and the grains rubbed. In this way it will be possible to get rid of the films and husks remaining after processing the barley. Rinse the cereal until the water is clear. Thoroughly washed, clean pearl barley becomes friable after cooking and does not stick together or slip.

Barley: healthy, tasty and inexpensive

The cost of this cereal is so low that it will fit into the budget of any family!

The benefits are enormous:

indispensable for constipation, as it perfectly cleanses and stimulates the intestines;
it relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive organs;
reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol;
thanks to the high content of vitamins A, E, B, which are preserved even after cooking, strengthens the immune system;
promotes the destruction of stones and other deposits in the ducts of internal organs;
improves cerebral circulation and has an antioxidant effect; replenishes iron and amino acid levels.

Barley is often boiled in broth; even rich, strong bone broth is suitable. Mushroom and vegetable broths are also good. But these methods of preparing pearl barley porridge are far from the norms of proper nutrition, and if used frequently, they at least harm the figure.

Cooking with milk is a little more healthy, but also not suitable for those who are watching their weight and following a diet with a minimum content of animal fats. For children, pearl barley with milk is ideal.

The best option for preparing this cereal for those who adhere to proper nutrition standards is boiling in water . And if you know how to properly cook pearl barley porridge in water, the proportions, and some subtleties, then preparing a hearty breakfast or lunch is as easy as shelling pears. But then you can add anything you like to this side dish: chicken, vegetables, mushrooms, fish, dried fruits or fresh fruits.

How to quickly cook pearl barley porridge in water without soaking

You can easily and quickly prepare pearl barley porridge without soaking. To do this, you need to purchase small-sized pearl barley of the highest grade, light in color and reminiscent of pearls. The Dutch variety is ideal for this recipe, as it is easy to cook without pre-soaking.

Ingredients:

pearl barley – 3/4 cup;
salt – 0.5 tsp;
water – 3-3.5 glasses;
ground pepper - a pinch;
butter – 30 g.

Preparation:

It is necessary to rinse the pearl barley in cold water.
Boil water and put the cereal in it.
Cook pearl barley porridge after boiling water for 10 minutes. Next, foam forms on the surface, and the water becomes cloudy. This water should be drained, the cereal should be washed and a new portion of water should be boiled again, and then the pearl barley should be added.
Cook the porridge for another 20 minutes until done. At the end you need to salt the pearl barley. The porridge turns out soft and crumbly even without soaking. Add butter or olive oil to the hot dish.

Do I need to soak pearl barley?

Any good housewife knows that the process of soaking cereals is an auxiliary method for improving the taste of pearl barley, and not at all a mandatory procedure.

The soaking and cooking time depends on the dish to which pearl barley is added: from 1-12 hours.

Soaked pearl barley grains are more crumbly and have a soft texture, which reduces cooking time, so in canteens, barley grains are usually always soaked. At home, housewives can skip this process; the idea to prepare soup, pickle soup or a main course may come by accident and there is no time for soaking.

Pearl barley is also soaked to get rid of inhibitor substances ; they preserve the product longer, but are not useful for the human body. During the soaking process, the substances are destroyed, and the pearl barley dish is easier to digest.

In addition, water removes excess polysaccharide and the cereal becomes less slimy and cloudy. And so we figured out that soaking is not necessary, but it definitely won’t be superfluous, so if you have time, it’s better to use the procedure, the dish will become tastier, healthier and will save you from lengthy washing of the grains.

Crumbly pearl barley porridge on water in a slow cooker

Barley in a miracle device called a “multi-cooker” is a simple and quick way to prepare healthy porridge without effort or hassle. The multicooker will do everything for the hostess, there is no need to monitor the process and be afraid that the porridge may burn. Pearl barley porridge prepared in a modern device turns out soft, crumbly, tender, and tasty.

Ingredients:

pearl barley – 3 multi-cups;
salt – a couple of pinches;
water – 8 multi-glasses;
butter – 50 g.

Preparation:

Pour the pearl barley into a deep container and rinse thoroughly in cold water several times. The water should become clean and transparent.
Place the washed cereal in a multi-cooker bowl, add a little salt.
Next, you need to pour in clean warm water.
Place a bowl in the multicooker and turn on the “Porridge” program (60 minutes).
After the readiness signal sounds, leave the barley porridge in the bowl. After some time, leave the pearl barley for 20 minutes on the “Heating” mode.
Place the porridge into plates and add a piece of butter. The dish can be served with any type of fish, meat or vegetables.

How long to cook pearl barley

The exact cooking time depends on many factors:

raw materials are used with or without soaking;
grain size and shape;
freshness of the product;
cooking method, what kind of cookware or equipment is used.

Approximate times are shown in the table:

Cooking method	Time (minutes)
In a saucepan	45-60
In a slow cooker	60
In the oven	80-100
In the microwave	25-35
In a thermos	120-240

Barley porridge on water with mushrooms in the oven in a pot

Dishes cooked in pots have an incredible taste and special aroma. Juicy and aromatic pearl barley porridge with the addition of mushrooms is very easy to prepare. A hearty and tasty dish will be appreciated by your loved ones.

Ingredients:

pearl barley – 3/4 cup;
water – 2 glasses;
salt – 0.5 tsp;
mushrooms – 300 g;
vegetable oil – 4-5 tbsp. l.;
onions – 1-2 pcs.

Preparation:

Rinse the pearl barley and then leave it in water overnight. In the morning, drain the pearl barley in a colander, rinse thoroughly and place in a bowl.
Peel the onion and cut into small cubes.
Wash, peel the mushrooms and cut into slices or small pieces. You can use frozen mushrooms, which must be removed from the freezer in advance.
In a frying pan heated with oil, fry the onion over medium heat with continuous stirring until golden, then add it to the pearl barley.
Place the mushrooms in the frying pan where the onions were fried and fry over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring while doing so.
Place the fried mushrooms in a bowl with pearl barley and onions, add salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients.
Place the porridge in two pots, fill with water so that it is a couple of centimeters above the pearl barley. Place both pots on a baking sheet in a cold oven, then set to +220 °C (no need to cover them with a lid).
Bring the contents of the pots to a boil (after about 35 minutes), then reduce the temperature to +170 °C, cover with lids and cook the pearl barley porridge for about 50-60 minutes (based on the characteristics of the oven, the time may vary slightly).
Turn off the oven and leave the pots in it for an hour. Soaked in mushroom aroma, soft pearl barley porridge is ready!

Ingredients

If desired, you can add milk, jam, meat and other products to pearl barley cooked in water.

Traditionally, pearl barley is cooked in milk, but even in water, this porridge can be tasty, crumbly, and most importantly, light and low in calories (only 109 kcal per 100 g of porridge).

To prepare porridge you will need:

pearl barley – 1 cup;
water – from 1 liter;
salt, butter - to taste.

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Cooking water usually requires 2-3 times more water than cereal.

Note! Barley boils very well and increases in volume almost 5 times. Take this fact into account when choosing a pan and measuring the amount of cereal for porridge.

Before cooking, be sure to wash the pearl barley. Do this in cold water, rinse well and rub the grains. This way you will get rid of the husks and films remaining after processing the barley. Drain the water and debris, add a new portion and wash again. Do this until the drained water runs clear. Well-washed pearl barley will become crumbly after cooking and will not be slippery or sticky.

On sale you can see already prepared pearl barley in bags, which you can immediately cook without first washing it of debris and husks. This is very convenient, and this porridge also cooks faster than regular barley.

Delicious pearl barley porridge in water with vegetables

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
water - liter;
onion – 1 pc.;
carrots – 1 pc.;
salt – 1 tsp;
tomato paste – 1 tbsp. l.;
vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
dill/parsley - to taste.

Preparation:

Rinse the cereal thoroughly, add a liter of water, and then leave to soak for several hours. Then drain the water.
In a saucepan with a liter of boiling water, cook the pearl barley until tender. Add salt at the end.
While preparing the porridge, prepare the vegetables.
Grind the washed and peeled carrots on a coarse grater.
Peel the onion and cut into half rings.
In a frying pan heated with oil, fry the carrots and onions until half cooked for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
When the vegetables become soft and golden, add tomato paste, salt, stir, and then cover with a lid. Simmer over low heat for 5-6 minutes, remembering to stir occasionally.
Add fried vegetables to the prepared pearl barley porridge, mix well and serve. If desired, you can sprinkle the dish with washed, dried chopped herbs.

Video about the benefits of pearl barley

Famous nutritionists and doctors strongly recommend introducing healthy and simple porridge into your diet:

Irina Polyanitsa My name is Irina, I am the owner and admin of the site, as well as the author of most of the recipes and articles. I love to cook simple and healthy delicacies. Certified gym instructor, personal trainer. She completed a course on nutrition and health at Stanford University, Stanford Introduction to Food and Health, as well as a course at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy (about nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy).

Fried pearl barley porridge in a frying pan with stewed meat

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
stew (beef) – 300 g;
water – 3 glasses;
garlic – 3 cloves;
onion – 1 pc.;
dried dill – 1 tsp;
dried parsley – 1 tsp;
carrots – 1 pc.;
bay leaf – 2 pcs.;
salt - to taste;
ground pepper - a pinch.

Preparation:

It is necessary to soak pearl barley in cold water for 12 hours (or overnight).
Rinse the cereal thoroughly until the water is clear, place it in a saucepan, and then add water.
Cook the pearl barley porridge over moderate heat until the water is absorbed.
Peel the onion and cut into cubes.
Cut the washed and peeled carrots into circles.
Cut the peeled garlic into thin slices.
Place the fat from the can of stew into the roasting pan and melt it. Add the prepared vegetables, then simmer until soft.
The stewed beef should be cut into small pieces, and then transfer the stew to the roasting pan with the vegetables, adding seasonings: dill, parsley, pepper. Mix the ingredients and heat for about 3 minutes.
Transfer the cooked pearl barley porridge to the stew with vegetables, add bay leaf, stir and simmer for about 5 minutes. Pour some hot water into the roasting pan.
Let it brew under the lid for 10-15 minutes, after which you can put it on plates and serve. If desired, add butter and sprigs of fresh herbs.

Method No. 2 Quick

If it is not possible to soak the barley overnight, then there is one tricky method for quickly preparing barley. For it you will need cereal, a kettle, a colander and a spacious saucepan. The grains are cooked in two stages and placed in boiling liquid.

Proportions

For 1 cup of grains you will need a total of 5 cups of boiling water. At the first stage, a 3:1 proportion of water and cereal is used so that all the “mucus” is boiled down. At the second stage, take less than 2:1 water.

Instructions on how to cook pearl barley in water without soaking in a pan

The preparation scheme is as follows:

First, sort out and wash a glass (volume 250 ml) of pearl barley.
Pour 3 cups of boiling water over the cereal.
When it boils, note the time and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring. Place on a sieve.
Rinse the cooking pan to remove foam, pour in 500 ml of boiling water. Add salt (about 1 tsp). If there are no calorie restrictions, then add 1 tablespoon of oil (sunflower or butter). Add the cereal. If you want to cook a dish with milk or chicken broth, then use it at this stage (2 cups boiling). Do not throw the product into cold liquid.
Cook for 20-25 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated. Stir the porridge periodically and leave the lid ajar.

Barley is one of the universal side dishes. It goes well with fried and stewed meats and vegetables. Cooked in milk with raisins and dried fruits it will become almost a dessert. Instead of wheat, barley groats can be used to prepare kutia.

Video recipe

Liquid pearl barley porridge with water: recipe, proportions

The saucepan or stewpan in which pearl barley porridge will be cooked should be spacious, since the cereal quickly absorbs water and increases 4-5 times in volume. If the pearl barley is stale, longer cooking may be required.

The secret to preparing delicious porridge is to thoroughly and repeatedly rinse the cereal under cold water before and after soaking, as well as to maintain precise proportions.

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
salt – 0.5 tsp;
water – 6 glasses;
butter – 50 g.

Preparation:

Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly under running water and then soak for 10 hours.
Rinse the cereal several times under cold water. Next, transfer it to a saucepan and add water.
After the water boils, reduce the heat and cook the porridge for an hour. Add salt 10 minutes before the end of cooking.
Cover the prepared liquid porridge with a lid and leave for 10-15 minutes.
Place pearl barley into plates, add butter, mix and serve.

Features of cooking pearl barley for soup

If you need cereal for pickle soup or any other soup, then you should not cook it together with other ingredients. Otherwise, the broth will turn out cloudy and viscous. Therefore, the pearl barley should be boiled in any convenient way until tender, drained in a colander and rinsed with water. After this, add to the first dish 5-7 minutes before the end of cooking.

It is very convenient to make preparations for these purposes: freeze the cooled porridge in small portions in bags, and then use it as needed.

Barley is an undeservedly forgotten healthy cereal. It's actually not difficult to prepare. As a side dish, it can be combined with almost any salty or sweet ingredients, and is much cheaper than other cereals.

Viscous pearl barley porridge on water with pumpkin

Lenten pearl barley with pumpkin can be prepared in a salty or sweet version. If the first method is used, hot and spicy spices are suitable, in the second - raisins, dried apricots, sugar or natural honey.

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
water – 2 glasses;
pumpkin – 200 g;
vegetable oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
raisins – 2 tbsp. l.;
salt – 0.5 tsp.

Preparation:

Leave the washed cereal in a bowl of cold water for 10-12 hours. Swollen pearl barley will soften in just half an hour.
Rinse the cereal several times under running water, then drain the water. Transfer the wet barley into a cast iron pot or cauldron.
Peel the pumpkin, cut the pulp into cubes and grind with 150 g of water into a homogeneous puree.
Add pumpkin mixture to pearl barley.
Add washed and sorted raisins, salt, vegetable oil and mix.
Cook the pearl barley porridge, covered, for half an hour over low heat (reduce after boiling). If necessary, add a little additional boiling water.
Serve pearl barley with pumpkin hot or warm.

Mistakes when cooking pearl barley

Sometimes novice housewives make mistakes because of which the pearl barley turns out not tasty. Let's look at them:

The dish burned to the bottom of the pan during cooking. This usually occurs from non-compliance with the proportion of water and cereal. A small amount of liquid is quickly absorbed, and the barley burns during the cooking process. Sometimes this problem happens when cooking over high heat.
Unpleasant smell of cooked porridge. Most likely, the cereal was stored together with products that have a strong smell (black pepper and other seasonings). If the product's expiration date has expired, it is also possible that the porridge will have an unpleasant odor.
The pearl barley porridge turned out viscous and sticky. Porridge cooked from poorly washed cereals most often turns out sticky. You cannot use pearl barley that has been stored in a damp place.

You can prepare a lot of nutritious and healthy dishes from pearl barley, so it’s worth buying this product in the store at least occasionally. Moreover, now you know different ways to cook pearl barley.

Sweet pearl barley porridge on water with butter and sugar

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
apple – 2 pcs.;
raisins – 2 tbsp. l.;
sugar or natural honey - 1 tbsp. l.;
water – 3.5 cups;
butter – 30 g;
salt – a couple of pinches;
cinnamon - optional;
nuts - optional.

Preparation:

The cereal must first be soaked for 10 hours so that it cooks faster and turns out tastier.
Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly until the water is clear, and then place it in a saucepan. Pour in water and cook over moderate heat.
Pour boiling water over the raisins for a few minutes. Then rinse it, remove the tails and dry it.
Grate the washed and peeled apple.
At the end of cooking, add salt to the porridge (there should still be some water left in the pan). Remove barley from heat.
Add raisins and apples to the porridge and stir. Add cinnamon to taste.
Place the pan back on the heat and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Then turn off the heat, add sugar or honey, as well as good butter.
Stir the pearl barley porridge and leave covered for a quarter of an hour. Meanwhile, chop the nuts with a knife.
Place the pearl barley into plates, garnish with nut crumbs and serve.

Rules for choosing quality cereals

The most delicious and healthy porridge is made from high-quality pearl barley. To choose the right product in the store, you must adhere to the basic rules:

Package . First of all, pay attention to the integrity of the package; there should be no scratches, holes or strong dents on it. It is preferable to purchase cereals in transparent packaging - this way there is a greater chance that you will see bad grains and be able to make sure that there is no debris.
Color . Before putting the package in the basket, you need to take a good look at the color of the grains, as this is one of the signs of a fresh or spoiled product. The color of the cereal varies from white to yellow. There is nothing bad if you come across grains of a greenish tint.
Flowability . Well-dried cereals do not stick together in the package. To check the pearl barley for “flowability”, you need to turn the packaging over - if the grains roll individually, then the product is of high quality.
Best before date . Be sure to read the information on the packaging to be sure of the freshness of the product. To do this, look for the “Best before” line, which indicates the date until which the product can be stored. Expired cereal is hard, it takes a long time to cook, and besides, old pearl barley loses some of its beneficial properties.
Presence of garbage . If the packaging is made of transparent material, then it will be easier for you to determine whether there is debris in the cereal. The purer the pearl barley, the less time you will lose preparing the cereal before cooking.

How to cook pearl barley porridge in water with meat

Ingredients:

pearl barley - a glass;
water – 3 glasses;
pork or beef (pulp) – 600 g;
onion – 2 pcs.;
carrots – 2 pcs.;
vegetable oil – 5 tbsp. l.;
celery (root) – 60-70 g;
salt - to taste;
bay leaf – 2 pcs.;
allspice – 3 peas;
greens – 3-4 sprigs;
ground pepper - a pinch.

Preparation:

Rinse the cereal and soak in cold water overnight.
Drain the water from the swollen pearl barley and place it in a thick-walled pan. Pour in fresh cold water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cook the porridge over low heat for about an hour.
Grate the washed and peeled carrots on a coarse grater.
Cut the peeled onion into cubes.
Peel the celery root and then grate it on a coarse grater.
Wash the meat, dry it and then cut it into pieces.
Heat vegetable oil in a toasted bowl or casserole. Add pieces of meat and fry for 5-6 minutes.
Add vegetables to the meat, lightly salt, stir and cook for another 6-7 minutes.
Pour in hot water, which should cover the meat and vegetables. Bring the contents of the dish to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer over low heat for half an hour. If beef is used, the stewing time is 1.5 hours.
About 10 minutes before the end of cooking, add pearl barley, pepper, bay leaf, stir and bring the porridge until cooked. Then discard the bay leaf, add salt and pepper.
Serve pearl barley porridge with meat, sprinkled with chopped herbs.

Useful properties of pearl barley

Pearl barley is made from peeled barley grains, and as you know, this cereal crop is rich in nutrients and brings many benefits to the body.

First of all, I would like to talk about what substances the cereal contains. It contains a lot of fiber, which helps cleanse the body, as well as proteins, fats, amino acids, and polysaccharides. The composition includes trace elements such as copper, iron, molybdenum, manganese, zinc, and selenium. The microelements found in pearl barley include magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and sodium. The grains also contain vitamins B, A, D, E and PP.

Beneficial properties of pearl barley for humans:

helps improve bowel function and reduces the risk of constipation;
pearl barley contains vitamin PP, which improves the condition of skin, hair and nails;
B vitamins included in pearl barley porridge improve the functioning of the nervous system and have a positive effect on sleep and appetite;
contains many amino acids that have a rejuvenating effect;
with regular use, immunity increases and the functioning of the endocrine system improves;
saturates with energy for the whole day. There is no feeling of hunger for a long time.

What proportions of water and cereal should be observed?

To prepare pearl barley, you need to know exactly how much water you need. In this case, you need more of it than for any other cereal. As a rule, the product is prepared using two and a half or three glasses of water, depending on what kind of porridge you want to achieve: dry or softer. If the porridge is cooked without pre-soaking, it is necessary to maintain a ratio of one to five.

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Cooking secrets

If you have already tried to cook it at least once, then you know that it takes quite a long time. By telling us how to cook crumbly porridge in water, we will reveal the secrets of professional chefs.

Pour in the cereal and put on fire. Once it boils, cook for five minutes. Shake the cereal into a colander and rinse well. Be sure to rinse the pan as well.
Next, add water again and bring to a boil. After five minutes, remove from heat and repeat all the above procedures.
Now you can finally finish cooking our crumbly barley porridge in water. The recipe may seem complicated only at first glance. In fact, everything is prepared quite quickly. Now fill the cereal with 0.7 liters of water and add salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Add butter to the finished porridge. It makes a beautiful side dish. Real pearls.

Most popular questions

They are often asked by cooks, so it would be appropriate to collect them all together so that housewives can use them every day.

So is it necessary to soak cereals before cooking? It is advisable, but if you have time, then you can do without it. But experts say that it is best to soak it. This way the porridge will be crumbly and tasty.
How many times does pearl barley expand when cooked? It absorbs a lot of water and becomes about 5 times larger. Therefore, you need to select a pan with a good supply.
When to salt cereals? Sooner or later, every housewife also faces this question. Most often, immediately after boiling, but if you forget, you can add salt during the cooking process or already ready.
How to make porridge crumbly? It must first be soaked and boiled in a small amount of water so that it does not have time to fall apart.

Usually, just trying to cook this porridge once is enough to understand how easy and simple it is. If the result is not what you would like, then re-read all the recommendations again. Surely a mistake was made somewhere.