Barley Porridge

Pearl barley porridge is a delicious and flavorful porridge with amazing texture. It's a great alternative to oatmeal, and can be made ahead for future meals.

Jump to:

• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Top tips
• 🥗 Serving suggestions
• 🍲 Leftovers
• 🍴 You might also like these recipes..
• 📋 Frequently asked questions
• Recipe

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Cooked barley is not creamy like oatmeal. Instead it has a more rough texture. Barley is commonly used in savory meals, but its neutral flavor is also a perfect pairing with a sweet meal like porridge.

🥘 Ingredients

To make barley porridge, all you need is pearl barley, water and your choice of milk. I tend to use almond milk, but any type of milk will do.

Additionally, you might want to add some toppings. I like to serve my barley porridge with yogurt, fresh fruit, berries, peanut butter, raisins, chocolate chips and nuts.

🔪 Instructions

Add the barley, water and milk to a pot on medium heat. Leave it to boil until the barley has softened and all the liquid is absorbed. This typically takes 40-50 minutes.

Since barley takes a while to cook, it's a good idea to prepare multiple batches at the same time.

💭 Top tips

Here are my best advice to get this recipe perfect:

• If you want a really sweet porridge, you can add some honey or maple syrup.
• Leave the porridge to cook on medium heat. If the temperature is too high, the barley will not cook through.
• After the liquid has absorbed, do a taste test. If the barley still feels too hard, add some water and leave it to cook for a little longer.

🥗 Serving suggestions

Serve this barley porridge with sweet or savory toppings.

For a savory meal, add a fried egg, stir fried veggies or bacon.

For a sweet porridge, add caramelized bananas, yogurt, fresh fruit or berries, chocolate chips, dried fruits or nuts.

🍲 Leftovers

Leftover barley porridge can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 6 months. Serve the porridge cold, or reheat it in a microwave or on the stove top.

🍴 You might also like these recipes..

If you love hearty porridge and breakfasts, try any of these recipes:

📋 Frequently asked questions

Is this recipe allergy friendly? - Always consult the nutrition labels of the ingredients you use to ensure that they comply with your dietary requirements. This recipe is typically nut free, dairy free, egg free and soy free.

Can I make this this porridge with barley flakes? - Absolutely! Using barley flakes will result in a creamier porridge, similar to oatmeal. They also cook a lot faster than whole barley pearls.

Recipe