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.

DISCLAIMER: This post includes affiliate links,meaning that I get a small commission if you chooseto make a purchase through the given links.You can distinguish the curated commercial links with an * sign.Read full disclosure here.

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

Print recipe

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.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram @myvintagecooking

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

Did you make barley porridge? Tell me what you think!

My vintage cooking instagram

More porridge recipes? Check here

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

FAQs

Are barley porridge and oatmeal the same thing? ›

A key difference between barley and oats is gluten content. Barley does contain gluten making it unsafe for people with celiac disease to consume. Oatmeal does not naturally contain gluten. However, it is often processed in facilities that work on other types of grains that contain gluten.

Is barley porridge healthy? ›

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.

Which is healthier, oatmeal or barley? ›

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 porridge good for diabetes? ›

Yes, barley and its products are good for diabetes patients. Barley is rich in fibre and magnesium while low in calories and glycemic index. However, consuming an excess of barley is unhealthy. It might cause gas, bloating, or other gastric distress.

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 more nutritious than rice? ›

Brown rice also has over five times more folate and vitamin E. However, barley has twice the calcium and fibre and about 30 per cent fewer calories. The two are equivalent in protein and fat content. Ultimately, both grains are healthy choices and getting variety from both is best.

Who should not take 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.

Is it okay to eat barley every day? ›

Many medical associations such as the American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association recommend including whole-grain cereals such as barley in daily diet. Barley provides a good source of nutrients that include: Protein.

Is barley 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.

What is the healthiest barley to buy? ›

Some are healthier and more nutritious than others:
  • Hulled barley. Whole-grain barley undergoes minimal processing, removing the inedible hull and leaving the germ and bran intact. ...
  • Pearled barley. ...
  • Barley flakes. ...
  • Barley grits. ...
  • Barley flour. ...
  • Barley water.
Aug 30, 2022

Is barley a protein or carb? ›

Barley, pearled, cooked, 1 cup
Protein (g)3.55
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)44.31
Energy (kcal)193.11
Sugars, total (g)0.44
Fiber, total dietary (g)5.97
34 more rows

Is barley or quinoa better for you? ›

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.

Is barley porridge good for blood pressure? ›

The fiber in barley might lower cholesterol and blood pressure in people with high cholesterol. Barley may also reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. Barley seems to slow stomach emptying. This could help keep blood sugar stable and create a sensation of being full, which might help to control appetite.

Is barley water good for the kidneys? ›

Overall, barley water has soothing and nourishing effects on the kidneys. The antioxidant properties of barley water keep away the chances of inflammation or infection due to kidney stones. It is also known to keep you away from the risks of heart disorders, diabetes, and increase the immune power.

Which grain has the lowest sugar? ›

Barley (28), bulgur (48), buckwheat (45), brown rice (48), and quinoa all have low glycemic indexes (53). Blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels can be lowered and maintained with a diet high in whole grains.

Are porridge and oatmeal the same? ›

Surprisingly, oatmeal is a type of porridge. Though all oatmeal is considered porridge, the term porridge does not always refer to oatmeal. Still, the two words are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing. Unlike porridge, oatmeal is always made from rolled, ground, or flattened oats.

Can you substitute barley for oatmeal? ›

To incorporate the rustic, inexpensive grain into your diet, you can prepare it just like your favorite oatmeal recipe. Barley tastes great with all of the same mix-ins, be it cinnamon and brown sugar or fresh fruit and nuts—or even as a savory breakfast with a fried egg and avocado.

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.

Do porridge oats contain barley? ›

The issue is that sometimes oats are produced in the same place as wheat, barley and rye, and then become contaminated with these other grains. Only oats labelled gluten free may be eaten by people following a gluten free diet.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6304

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.