Springtime Barley Food

SPRINGTIME BARLEY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion and carrot in butter until crisp-tender. Stir in the barley; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until most of the liquid is absorbed. , Add asparagus. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally and adding more broth as needed. Stir in marjoram and pepper; sprinkle with cheese.

SPRING BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add barley and leeks; cook until beginning to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine; cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid absorbs, about 10 minutes.
• Add broth and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until barley is tender and creamy, about 10 minutes. Add asparagus; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas until heated through. Add Parmesan and mint; season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint leaves.

SPRING BARLEY SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring 1-1/2 qt. (6 cups) salted water to boil in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Add barley; return water to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 45 min. or until barley is tender. Drain; cool. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.
• Beat dressing mix, lemon juice, vinegar and oil in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add barley; toss to coat.
• Cut asparagus into 1-inch lengths. Add to barley mixture along with the peas and lemon peel; mix lightly.

NUTTY BARLEY BAKE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the onion, barley and nuts in butter until barley is lightly browned. Stir in the parsley, green onions, salt and pepper. , Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Stir in broth. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/4 hours or until the barley is tender and the liquid is absorbed. If desired, sprinkle with additional parsley and green onions.

LEMON BARLEY SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine the barley, the water, and salt to taste, bring the water to a boil, and cook the barley, covered, over low heat for 40 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and barley is tender. In a skillet sauté the cabbage in the oil with the vinegar and salt to taste over moderately high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it is wilted. In a bowl toss together the barley, the cabbage mixture, the carrot, the scallions, the zest, and salt and pepper to taste and let the filling cool. The filling may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• On a work surface arrange 1 spring-roll wrapper with a corner facing you and keep the remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap. Spread about 1/2 cup of the filling horizontally across the center of the wrapper, leaving a 2-inch border at each end, and fold the corner closest to you tightly over the filling. Brush the edges with some of the paste, fold the left and right corners over the filling, and, rolling away from you, roll up the filling tightly in the wrapper. Make more spring rolls with the remaining wrappers, filling, and paste in the same manner, transferring them as they are made to a wax-paper-lined baking sheet and keeping them covered with plastic wrap. In a deep skillet or deep fryer heat 1 inch of the oil to 375°F. on a deep-fat thermometer and in it fry the spring rolls in 2 batches, turning them, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they are golden, transferring them as they are fried with tongs to paper towels to drain. The spring rolls may be made 2 days in advance, cooled completely, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled. Reheat the rolls on a rack set in a jelly-roll pan in a preheated 450°F. oven, turning them once, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are crisp. Cut each spring roll on the diagonal into 3 pieces.

SPRING BARLEY SALAD

Steps:

• BRING 1-1/2 quart (6 cups) salted water to boil in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Add barley; return water to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 45 minute or until barley is tender. Drain; cool.
• BEAT salad dressing mix, lemon juice, vinegar and oil in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended.
• Add barley; toss to coat.
• CUT asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Add to barley mixture along with the peas and lemon peel; mix lightly.

SPRINGTIME BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add barley and leeks; cook until leeks begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine; cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Add broth and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until barley is tender and creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add asparagus; cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in peas until heated through.
• Add Parmesan and mint; season with salt and pepper.
• Garnish with mint leaves.