Barley Porridge - The Perfect Winter Breakfast | Recipe (2024)

We Nordics are infamously porridge people. We love it in the morning, and we love it as a warming evening meal. We also love porridge all year round, and in this sense, the milk-based barley porridge is a delicious winter breakfast for your porridge rotation.

Historically barley porridge is the age-old precursor forthe rice puddingwe now enjoy throughout Christmas. Rice was an expensive and fancy product back in the day, and only after the World Wars has it come to be a Christmas table staple.

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Barley Porridge - The Perfect Winter Breakfast | Recipe (1)

What barley to choose – hulled barley or pearl barley?

You can cook barley porridge multiple ways. I like to cook it milk-based to add more richness and creaminess. Most often I choose goat’s milk or whole milk and cook the porridge in a heavy-bottomed pot.

For the porridge, you can use hulled barley, pot barley, or pearl barley. Hulled barley is wholegrain and only the outer shell is removed from the grain. Pearl barley, on the other hand, is polished and the outer husk and bran layers have been removed. Pot barley is less processed in comparison to pearl barley but not as chewy as hulled barley.

Depending on my pantry situation, I alternate between pearl barley and pot barley. Pearl barley is winner in my household because it’s a more versatile product for porridges, risottos, and bread doughs. I even pre-soak the pearl barley for the porridge to give it a lovely, super-soft texture.

For example, you can useBob’s Red Mill Pearl Barley, 30 Oz*. It comes cheaper to buy in 4 packs, so if you have more ideas for barley, then, of course, gettingBob’s Red Mill Pearl Barley, 30-ounce (Pack of 4)*is a better choice.

Hulled barley-based porridge is equally delicious but has the firmest texture and takes about 15-20 minutes longer to cook. If going wholegrain is your choice, then slow cook with hulled barley.

Barley Porridge – The Perfect Winter Breakfast | Recipe

Barley Porridge - The Perfect Winter Breakfast | Recipe (2)

Barley Porridge - The Perfect Winter Breakfast | My Vintage Cooking

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Makes/Serves: 3-4 Prep Time: Cooking time:

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS 200 ml / 0.85 cups barley of your choice 1 liter / 33.8 oz fatty milk of your choice 1 tsp salt Cold water to soak the grains

METHOD

  1. The night before, place the barley in a medium-sized dish and cover the grains with cold water. Cover and soak overnight.
  2. In the morning, bring the milk to boil and add the drained barley. Set to medium-low heat and let the porridge simmer covered for 40-60 minutes (depending on the choice of barley). Stir the porridge occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn.
  3. When the porridge is creamy and smooth, add salt to taste.
  4. Serve porridge with honey, butter, dried berries, nuts, and seeds of your choice.

NOTES

If using hulled or pot barley, make sure to soak the grains overnight. Use a heavy-bottomed pot to avoid burning the milk-based porridge. Pearl barley porridge is cooked in 40 minutes, hulled barley and pot barley-based porridges take longer 50-60 minutes.

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Barley and History

Barley is one of the oldest cultivated grains (9000-10 000 BCE). Interestingly, despite barley’s ancient roots in the Middle East, it was modest enough grain to settle here in the North. Yet, it is not the most popular grain anymore, barley has a firm foot in the Nordic culinary heritage.

Often I feel barley is a forgotten grain that doesn’t get enough credit for its excellent qualities. Barley has a neutral and nutty flavor, a low glycemic index, and a good amount of fiber. It’s a wonderful base for porridge and amazing addition to bread doughs.

When comes to porridge, barley excels with its chewy texture. I like to garnish my barley porridge plate with nuts, seeds and dried berries to accentuate the meal’s texture even more. This truly is a nutritious start for the day on winter mornings.

When it comes to choosing the type of barley, you just have to experiment what kind of chewy texture you like best.

If you want to learn more ways to enjoy barley, why not try making rieska – barley flatbread from Lapland. It’s my heirloom recipe and I love to bake this flatbread especially during winter season.

Love, Saara

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Barley Porridge - The Perfect Winter Breakfast | Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is barley healthier than oatmeal? ›

In fact, barley contains about three times as much fiber per serving as oats. Barley is particularly rich in a type of soluble fiber known as beta glucan, which is recognized for its cholesterol-lowering abilities. Barley is also a good or excellent source of several vitamins and minerals.

Is barley a good breakfast food? ›

What has twice the protein and almost half the calories as oats? Barley, and it's about time we started eating it for breakfast. Not only does barley have a wonderfully nutty flavor and a chewy, hearty texture, but it's also a nutritious, high-fiber grain that boasts an array of health benefits.

What is the difference between barley porridge and oatmeal porridge? ›

One of the main differences between the two grains is their taste and texture. Oats have a nutty flavor and a chewy texture, while barley has a more neutral flavor and a chewy texture that is slightly firmer than that oats. Another difference is their culinary applications.

How good is barley porridge? ›

Barley is high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, which may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It may also aid weight loss and improve digestion. Whole-grain, hulled barley is more nutritious than refined, pearled barley.

Can I eat barley porridge everyday? ›

Eating 3.6 grams of barley daily as a source of dietary fiber seems to reduce the risk of heart disease. High cholesterol. Eating 3-12 grams of barley daily seems to reduce total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol.

Which is healthier quinoa or barley? ›

Nutritional Value

Barley is a good source of iron, niacin, and vitamin B6, and supplies an adequate source of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. It also easily wins out in fiber content, providing both soluble and insoluble fiber, with one serving providing 8 grams, compared to quinoa's 3.

What to avoid when taking barley? ›

Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity: The gluten in barley can make celiac disease worse. Avoid using barley. Allergies to cereal grains: Consuming barley might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to other cereal grains, including rye, wheat, oat, corn and rice.

What are the best grains to eat in the morning? ›

Start your day with a hearty, satiating whole grain foods for breakfast that'll keep your motor running until lunchtime. Quinoa, farro, whole wheat, oats, amaranth, and more make their way into both sweet and savory breakfast dishes from pancakes to porridge.

Is it OK to eat barley at night? ›

It contains amino acids, melatonin and tryptophan, which combine their effects to help you sleep better. Barley tea does not contain any caffeine, so it is entirely safe to have before bed.

What is barley porridge called? ›

Talbina is a porridge made from barley flour, formed by adding milk and honey to the dried barley powder. The name comes from the Arabic word laban meaning milk, because of its resemblance to milk, as it is soft and white.

Which is better wheat porridge or barley porridge? ›

Barley provides more health benefits than wheat, and is an excellent alternative to white wheat. This is because it contains more fiber than wheat. It also undergoes less processing, meaning it loses fewer nutrients. It's also rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

Is barley an anti inflammatory? ›

Barley has been shown to have antitumor properties through regulating the immune system and limiting cancer cell proliferation and dissemination. Furthermore, barley possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which may contribute to its anticancer potential.

Is barley porridge good for liver? ›

In addition to being highly nutritious, barley grass has been shown to eliminate intracellular toxins in humans – a huge benefit for the liver. Some well-studied effects include sleep promotion, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, and immunity enhancement.

Is barley a protein or carbohydrate? ›

A one-cup serving of cooked, pearled, barley provides 193 calories, most of which are carbohydrates. You'll consume 44.3 grams of carbohydrates in a single serving, 6 grams of fiber, and 0.4 grams of naturally-occurring sugar. The rest of the carbohydrates in barley are starch.

What are some advantages to using barley rather than oats? ›

Magnesium and Soluble Fiber May Protect Against Diabetes

Research shows that a barley breakfast provides a lower maximum rise in blood sugar and insulin levels than a breakfast consisting of other whole grains, such as oats ( 30 ).

How does barley compare to oatmeal? ›

The 200 to 270 calories in 1 cup of barley may not be as attractive to you as the 150 found in a cup of oatmeal. Pearled barley contains 200 calories, while the whole grain, hulled barley is higher in nutrients and fiber and in calories as well.

Is barley the healthiest grain? ›

Barley is a healthy grain and it may help you lose weight, increase heart health, reduce cancer risk, and achieve other health goals. Barley is a chewy whole grain with a mild nutty flavor. It's an excellent source of fiber, nutrients, and vitamins.

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