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    Home » Blog » Whole Food Recipes » Easy Side Dishes

    May 5, 2020 | By Jami

    Easy Vegetable Barley Pilaf Recipe

    Jump to Recipe
    barley vegetable pilaf side dish
    easy healthy vegetable barley pilaf
    easy vegetable barley pilaf
    easy prep vegetable barley pilaf

    Barley pilaf is truly a simple dish - sauté a few vegetables, throw in barley and liquid, let it cook unattended, and you've got a tasty and unique side dish with only 10-15 minutes hands-on time.

    healthy and easy vegetable barley pilaf

    I love the nutty, hearty flavor of barley and wish I would remember to cook with it more often. When we get in a rice-pasta-potato rut, I pull out this easy vegetable barley pilaf recipe for something different.

    Barley pilaf makes a great side dish for any meat or seafood and is good hot or at room temperature, making it a good potluck recipe.

    Plus, it works with lots of different vegetables you may have on hand - more than just the onions and peppers shown. I've made this with:

    • mushrooms
    • diced carrots or turnips
    • chopped kale added with the liquid
    • chopped spinach stirred in at the end of cooking

    I'm sure you could add in chopped broccoli, snap peas, and more at the end of the cooking. This recipe is a great base to add to and use up what you have!

    barley pilaf in cooking pot

    This is such an easy side dish- in fact the only hard part is remembering to start it about an hour before serving.

    But that's why we plan a menu, right?

    Is barley good for you?

    While barley isn't as common as rice or other grains, it really has a nice flavor and texture and is surprisingly healthy.

    Barley's nutrients include:

    • B vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate and pantothenic acid
    • Vitamin E
    • Zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium
    • Small amounts of copper, manganese and calcium

    Plus, barley can help maintain weight since it is a low-glycemic grain, high in both soluble and insoluble fiber (soluble fiber helps the body metabolize fats, cholesterol and carbohydrates, and lowers blood cholesterol levels). It also contains phytochemicals that act as antioxidants to help protect against disease.

    And this is interesting: in a four-week study in 28 healthy individuals, 60 grams of barley a day increased a beneficial type of bacteria in the gut that may help reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar balance. (source)

    That's good stuff! Just another reason we should be eating a varied diet, isn't it?

    Is barley a protein or a carb?

    It is a carbohydrate, containing 22 grams carbs, 3 grams fiber, and 2 grams protein in a half cup cooked (a typical serving size).

    Vegetable Barley Pilaf

    Vegetable Barley Pilaf ingredients

    Ingredients

    Consider this recipe your "base" barley pilaf recipe. I would always include these core ingredients and then add more veggies, if desired:

    • pearl or hulled barley (see differences below)
    • broth, chicken or vegetable
    • white wine (or more broth)
    • onions
    • sweet red pepper
    • butter
    • garlic
    • salt and pepper

    What is the difference between hulled barley and pearl barley?

    Hulled barley (or barley groats) only has the outer hull removed so it is more of the whole grain than pearl barley which has had the outer husk and bran layers removed.

    Pearled barley is the easiest to find in stores and cooks in less time than hulled barley.

    Hulled barley takes about 1 1/2 hours and pearled barley 40-50 minutes.

    Do I have to rinse barley?

    If it's bought in bulk, you can do a brief rinse to wash away any debris, but it's optional and shouldn't be needed in packaged barley.

    Cooking Vegetable Barley Pilaf

    Directions

    The hands-on time is simple and quick: sauté the onions, peppers, and garlic in butter until softened.

    Add all the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat and then forget about it while it cooks on low for 40-50 minutes. 

    Pretty easy, right?

    Vegetable Barley Pilaf in pan with spoon

    Plus, you can also bring to a boil and place the pot (if it's heat-proof) in the oven to cook along with something you have roasting.

    It takes a couple minutes more that way, but is super convenient and will be ready when your roast chicken/pork/whatever is ready.

    Vegetable Barley Pilaf above with pan

    Serving Suggestions

    • Maple Mustard Baked Chicken
    • Whole Rotisserie Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Chicken
    • Sheet Pan Sausages with Peppers & Onions
    Vegetable Barley Pilaf in bowl
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.43 from 7 votes

    Easy Vegetable Barley Pilaf

    Unique and tasty barley pilaf is truly a simple dish - sauté a few vegetables, throw in barley and liquid, let it cook unattended, and you've got a wonderful side dish with only 10-15 minutes hands-on time.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time1 hr
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Yield: 8 servings
    Author: Jami Boys

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 medium onion chopped
    • 1/2 large red sweet pepper chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ½ cups pearl barley can use hulled*
    • 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • 1/2 cup white wine or more chicken broth
    • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • fresh parsley for garnish optional

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, peppers, and garlic; cook for about 5 minutes until vegetables have softened.
    • Add barley, salt and pepper, and cook for about a minute before pouring in broth and wine (if using).
    • Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 45 to 50 minutes until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed.
    • Garnish with parsley before serving.

    Notes

    *To use hulled barley, simply cook pilaf 30 minutes longer, or until tender.
    To Cook in Oven: You can cook this in the oven if you wish: after bringing to a boil, cover the pot and place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 55 to 60 minutes. I like this option if I'm baking chicken- it's easy to put it all in the oven and forget about it for an hour.
    Additional Vegetable Variations:
    • Sauté mushrooms along with onions.
    • Add diced carrots, parsnips, or turnips along with onions.
    • Add chopped kale with the liquid, before boiling.
    • Stir in chopped spinach at the end of cooking.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!
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    simple side barley pilaf

    Other Easy Sides to Try:

    Parmesan Rice Cakes- an easy side dish using leftover rice.
    Parmesan Rice Cakes
    Your whole family will love the flavor of this favorite side dish - it's a crispy, cheesy way to use up leftover rice!
    Click For Recipe
    Family favorite Baked Tasty Rice
    Baked Tasty Rice Recipe
    Baked Tasty Rice was my grandma's specialty and always a favorite of anyone who tried it. It's so easy - and really is amazingly tasty - that it may become your family's favorite, too. Both oven and Instant Pot directions are included.
    Click For Recipe
    Slow Cooker Curried Barley
    Easy Slow Cooker Curried Barley with Carrots & Onions
    Free up your oven space with this recipe for slow cooker curried barley, a unique and SO flavorful side dish for any seafood, poultry or meat.
    Click For Recipe

    This recipe has been updated - it was originally published in March of 2011.

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    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Traci Cooley says

      April 22, 2022 at 11:36 am

      Is Barley good for you if you have NAFLD? Or is this recipe good with people who have NAFLD? TY

      Reply
      • Jami says

        April 25, 2022 at 1:56 pm

        Yes! Barley is considered a high-fiber grain that is a good part of a healthy diet, regular or fatty liver disease.
        There are also some studies showing the antioxidants in barley are beneficial, too.
        This recipe is healthy and delicious, so go for it!

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      May 05, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      This looks wonderful -- and it's one of those recipes I can tell will be delicious just by reading it. I've always loved barley. It was my favorite part of Campbell's Vegetable Soup when I was a kid. And I make a yummy barley pudding these days. Looking forward to giving this a starring role for dinner!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 07, 2020 at 12:05 pm

        Thank you, Beth!

        Reply
    3. Anonymous says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:57 am

      Love the recipe, but wanted to know if I could use hulled barley instead of pearl barley. I really love your blog. Have a great day. God Bless

      Reply
      • Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says

        May 17, 2012 at 3:10 am

        Sure! You'll just need to cook it longer to account for the difference - probably 20-30 minutes more.

        Reply
    4. Henny Penny says

      March 04, 2011 at 3:57 pm

      Barley is a nice change-up. I like to make burritos with barley.

      Reply
    5. IAMSNOWFLAKE says

      March 03, 2011 at 11:16 pm

      This recipe comes at a perfect time. I'm just stuck in the rut, as you perfectly described it, with potatoes, rice and pasta. I'll definitely incorporate it in next week's menu.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jami and I'm so glad you're here! My desire is to help you live a simple homemade life through delicious whole food recipes, easy organic gardening and preserving your harvest.

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