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I’m curious since both you and my parent specially mentioned barley: what do you use it for? I can’t think of any common use for barley except brewing and I’ve

I’m curious since both you and my parent specially mentioned barley: what do you use it for? I can’t think of any common use for barley except brewing and I’ve never consciously seen it in a store (though I may have missed it since I have no use)

jamil7 6y ago
My grandmother used to put it in a soup with other vegetables and some meat. It really bulked out the meal and made you feel full, I always assumed it was an affordable way to feed a lot of people. More recently I've seen it appearing in salads.
twic 6y ago
My local Kurdish naan bakery makes barley naans. They're rather tasty, and a third the price of the wheat ones.
- Xylakant 6y ago
  That’s interesting. Do you have an idea if that’s really pure barley? A reason barley is not a grain commonly found in bread is that barley has no gluten (the glue protein that makes bread dough stick).
  - twic 6y ago
    Not a clue, i'm afraid! They were flat rather than fluffy, like a roti or paratha, and very dense and chewy.
arethuza 6y ago
Pearl barley is a common ingredient in soups - at least here in Scotland anyway.
gambiting 6y ago
I use it for the same meals you could use rice or pasta for it just has more "bite" than either one of those. When cooked in a vegetable broth it has a very pleasant flavour too.
- Xylakant 6y ago
  Ok, thanks. That would be what’s called “graupen” in germany, rolled and polished grain. That’s fallen a bit out of favor, but I know it was once common.
kjs3 6y ago
Beef and/or mushroom and barley stew is a winter staple in my family. Never had trouble finding barley in the store. I have vegetarian friends who use it all sorts of places that I might have used oats, lentils or rice. Of course...brewing would be the finest use of it. :-)
baybal2 6y ago
> what do you use it for? Boil and eat it? Certainly good with heavier, fatter pieces of meat.
vkou 6y ago
Toss a handful into the next soup you make. It's got good texture, and goes well with nearly anything.

jamil7 6y ago

My grandmother used to put it in a soup with other vegetables and some meat. It really bulked out the meal and made you feel full, I always assumed it was an affordable way to feed a lot of people. More recently I've seen it appearing in salads.

twic 6y ago

My local Kurdish naan bakery makes barley naans. They're rather tasty, and a third the price of the wheat ones.

Xylakant 6y ago
That’s interesting. Do you have an idea if that’s really pure barley? A reason barley is not a grain commonly found in bread is that barley has no gluten (the glue protein that makes bread dough stick).
- twic 6y ago
  Not a clue, i'm afraid! They were flat rather than fluffy, like a roti or paratha, and very dense and chewy.

arethuza 6y ago

Pearl barley is a common ingredient in soups - at least here in Scotland anyway.

gambiting 6y ago

I use it for the same meals you could use rice or pasta for it just has more "bite" than either one of those. When cooked in a vegetable broth it has a very pleasant flavour too.

Xylakant 6y ago
Ok, thanks. That would be what’s called “graupen” in germany, rolled and polished grain. That’s fallen a bit out of favor, but I know it was once common.

kjs3 6y ago

Beef and/or mushroom and barley stew is a winter staple in my family. Never had trouble finding barley in the store. I have vegetarian friends who use it all sorts of places that I might have used oats, lentils or rice. Of course...brewing would be the finest use of it. :-)

baybal2 6y ago

> what do you use it for? Boil and eat it? Certainly good with heavier, fatter pieces of meat.

vkou 6y ago

Toss a handful into the next soup you make. It's got good texture, and goes well with nearly anything.