Barley With Sun Dried Tomatoes And Scallions Food

VEGETARIAN BARLEY CASSEROLE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• For the risotto:
• Bring vegetable broth to a simmer. In a separate large saucepan on an adjacent burner, heat the oil and saute onion until it is translucent. Add barley (or rice) and lightly saute to toast the barley. Add wine and stir for about 2 minutes until it is absorbed. Begin slowly adding broth, 1 ladle-full at a time, to the barley pan, stirring as you go. The friction of the stirring will bring out the starch in the barley. As the mixture absorbs the broth, ladle more into the pot. When all of the broth has been ladled into the barley pot, slowly simmer until barley is soft and creamy. Stir in ricotta to add creaminess, then crumble in goat cheese (to add cohesiveness), stir, cover and set aside.
• For the pesto:
• Place basil in food processor, add pine nuts and garlic, and pulse until chopped. Scrape into a bowl, add Parmesan and stir in oil to form a thick smooth paste. Add black pepper, to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread half of the barley (or rice) mixture over the bottom of a lasagna dish or large casserole. Top with half of the sun-dried tomatoes and then with half of the basil pesto. Repeat for a second layer. Bake covered with foil for 25 minutes, then remove foil and continue to bake for 5 minutes to let top layer of pesto become toasted. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh basil sprigs.

BARLEY BAKED WITH OLIVES AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat the oil in a two- to three-quart ovenproof casserole or saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onions and saute over low heat until they are tender. Stir in the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and barley. Stir in half the stock, bring to a simmer, cover and place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, stir the barley, add half the remaining stock and return the casserole to the oven to bake another 20 minutes. Stir once more, add the remaining stock and bake the barley another 15 to 20 minutes, until all the liquid has been absorbed and the barley is tender.
• Season to taste with salt, if necessary, and pepper and fold in the basil.