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Barley Risotto Recipe

Barley Risotto Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Low in fat, but high in fiber, this delicious dish from our Test Kitchen puts a twist on typical risotto. With its nutty undertones, barley provides the perfect backdrop for lemon and parsley.

This recipe is:

Healthy

Diabetic Friendly

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Barley Risotto Recipe

Prep: 10 min. Cook: 30 min.

Yield: 4 Servings

10 30 40

Ingredients

3 cups water
3 teaspoons sodium-free chicken bouillon granules
3/4 cup medium pearl barley
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup white wine or additional water
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil; add bouillon and stir until dissolved. Reduce heat and keep warm.
In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook and stir the barley for 2-4 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a small bowl. In the same skillet, saute onion in oil for 2 minutes. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer or until onion is tender. Stir in barley and wine. Cook and stir until all of the liquid is absorbed.
Add heated bouillon, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to absorb between additions. Cook just until barley is almost tender (cooking time is about 20 minutes). Add the parsley, lemon peel and salt; cook and stir until heated through. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1/2 cup equals 175 calories, 2 g fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 84 mg sodium, 32 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 4 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat.

Originally published as Barley Risotto in Light & Tasty December/January 2008, p63

Full-Bodied White Wine

Enjoy this recipe with a full-bodied white wine such as Chardonnay or Viognier.

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Barley Risotto

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Reviewed on Nov. 11, 2012 by jjpuppy3

Can someone please tell me where to find sodium-free chicken boullion granules? This recipe sounds delicious!

Reviewed on Nov. 10, 2012 by ConnieK

I really like barley and have been looking for recipes that use it other than in a soup. This was VERY tasty. I wasn't sure how barley would turn out as a risotto but it worked great. The lemon zest adds a wonderful flavor and aroma. I agree with one of the other reviewer, taste it at the end before adding salt. Mine didn't need any added salt either. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed on Nov. 08, 2012 by jhystead

I was really happy with this recipe. My husband loves the regular (rice) risotto that I make and so I wasn't sure how excited he would be about this but we are trying to eat a little healthier so I thought I'd try it. It was really good. I made a few substitutions and additions but nothing too major. I used unsalted chicken broth instead of the water and bouillon and I used a couple of splashes of lemon juice instead of lemon peel. I also added baby bella mushrooms and some celery to the dish. It was very tasty. Thanks!

Reviewed on May. 17, 2010 by daisyshae99

My husband picked this recipe out for me to make, and thank goodness he did! We loved it! This was my first time making a risotto, and I was sort of surprised how easy it really was to do. Sure, it was time consuming, but well worth the effort.

Reviewed on Feb. 05, 2010 by bameiboo

I was unsure how this would taste but gave it a try. Wow the flavor and texture were great. The lemon zest added a super fresh taste but didn't over power it. I served this with a slowcooker lemon chicken from this website and the risotto soaked up the thin sauce from the chicken and it was yummy. I would caution you to taste the risotto before adding salt in the end, mine didn't need it. I love using barley in soups and am so glad to have found this recipe. If you have never made a risotto before just be prepare to stand over it and stir for 30 minutes!

Reviewed on Oct. 22, 2009 by GranMarion____MN

More and more I am amazed at the wide variety of tastes associated with and around barley. This is a grain that should be showcased more often. Not only is a textured delight, but imagine, it's good for you too!