Barley Beef Burgers

Name: Barley Beef Burgers
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup quick-cooking barley; 1/2 small onion, halved; 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce; 1-1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 pound lean ground beef; 2 hamburger buns, split; Optional toppings: lettuce leaves, tomato slices and onion slices

Barley adds another dimension to an old-fashioned hamburger. My husband and I really enjoy these juicy patties with onion and barbecue sauce mixed right in. —Rosella Peters, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup quick-cooking barley
1/2 small onion, halved
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound lean ground beef
2 hamburger buns, split
Optional toppings: lettuce leaves, tomato slices and onion slices

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in barley. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 8-10 minutes or until barley is tender. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Cool slightly.
Place onion and barley in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Remove to a bowl; stir in barbecue sauce, flour, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into two 1/2-in. thick patties.
Grill, covered, over medium heat 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve on buns with toppings as desired.

Health Tip: Including barley adds 3 grams fiber and saves 5 grams fat compared to an all-beef burger the same size.

Nutrition Facts

1 burger: 395 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 625mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 5g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 2 fat.

Originally published as Barley Beef Burgers in Cooking for 2 Fall 2008