What Is Pearl barley and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about pearl barley and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 219 recipes to cook tonight.

What is pearl barley?

Barley is a hardy cereal grass is related to wheat, which it resembles.

lt comes in a number of varieties and seldom grows higher than three feet.

Barley grows in a larger range of climates than other cereals. It has a short growing season, and therefore can be grown at high altitudes and up to the shores of the Arctic seas.

lt is an important crop in temperate and subtropical climates.

Barley is one of the oldest of food plants. The Dwellers of Switzerland, about 3,000 years ago, knew at least three kinds. The Bible mentions barley as one the foods that was destroyed by the plagues of (Exodus 9:31).

The ancient Greeks and Romans grew barley, and it was extensively grown later in England America, barley was sown on Martha’s Vineyard early in the 17th century. Barley is high in nutritive values. Until the 16th century it was the main ingredient of bread, though its in gluten makes it poor bread flour.

ln prosperous times it was supplanted by wheat which is more and better suited for baking since bread made from flour is much lighter than barley bread. However, has an excellent, nutty flavor and is extremely satisfying as a filler or as a side dish with meats, instead of potatoes.

Some cultures favor the use of barley: Scandinavians, and Turks, for example. Barley is an essential ingredient in the brewing of beer and in the distillation of Scotch whisky.

Barley water, a drink that is both refreshing and mild, was once a standard beverage in British households, especially in Victorian times.

Availability

Generally available in markets throughout the world.

Purchasing Guide

For consumers you usually find with bran removed and polished as pearl barley in fine, medium, and coarse sizes.

Scotch barley is husked grain roughly ground. It is not readily available but can be found in
health-food and specialty stores but is appearing in more mainstream markets.

Barley is also available as a baby cereal.

Storage

Kitchen shelf, in a cool, dry spot: indefinitely

Refrigerator shelf, cooked, covered: 2 to 4 days

Basic Preparation

Cook pearl barley in water to cover, from 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. Old-fashioned Scotch barley must be soaked for 12 hours before cooking.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find pearl barley: Pearl barley is usually found in the rice & beans section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pearl barley is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

薏米

British (UK) term

Pearl barley

en français

orge perlée

en español

la cebada perlada

How much does pearl barley weigh?

Related

Cereal Grains and Pasta

Recipes using pearl barley

There are 225 recipes using and its varieties.

Green Barley Soup with Sorrel & Spinach

here and there they call this soup green borsht or green krupnik.. very popular in Latvia but they cook it in different way than my proposition..

Sage Barley Mushroom Soup

This recipe is a great comfort food. High in fiber, the assortment of mushrooms and the addition of garlic have immune boosting properties. It's a delicious and easy recipe to keep you warm and filled for this next week.

Barley with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Scallions

This Barley with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Scallions is a comforting and flavorful side dish that combines the nutty chewiness of pearl barley with the tangy richness of sun-dried tomatoes and the mild bite of scallions. Cooked in butter and seasoned simply with salt and pepper, it’s an easy yet satisfying addition to any meal. Perfect alongside roast veal and sautéed broccoli rabe, this dish brings a rustic elegance to the table.

Lovage Soup with Barley

for those who like delicate aroma and flavor of fresh lovage..

Vegetarian Barley Casserole with Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Pesto

Barley risotto layered with sun-dried tomatoes and homemade basil pesto, enriched with ricotta and goat cheese, then baked until the pesto toasts golden. A vegetarian main that eats like a feast.

Tomatoey Tabouli

Tomatoey tabouli: a hearty Middle Eastern grain salad with bulgur and pearl barley soaked in tomato juice, finished with lemon, olive oil, parsley, and scallions.

Hungarian Beef & Barley Stew (Instant Pot)

Hearty, rich, flavorful, and so easy to make. No Instant Pot. No worries, the stovetop method is included. And the bang for the buck on this barley beef stew recipe for inflationary times checks all the boxes.

Barley-Shiitake Mushroom Soup

Barley and Mushroom soup makes you feel filling, provides you with lot of goodness, and it also tastes delicious.

Mushroom Barley Stew

Tasty and nutritious. This big pot of stew will warm up your whole family and provides both delicious flavor and health benefits.

Barley Risotto with Fennel

For cooking this risotto, we use slow cooker, so even no stir, the risotto is cooked wonderfully, and you can choose barly or brown rice, add more fibre.

Best Barley Egg Rolls

This recipe is an interesting take on egg rolls that add belly filling barley along with delicious Asian flavor.

Leftover Turkey Barley Soup

Great way to turn a bit of leftover turkey into a hearty, filling and inexpensive meal. Improved by adding a dash of soy sauce, sesame oil and splash of rice vinegar when serving.

Vegetable Barley Stew with Lentils

Super tasty and loaded with goodness. This is one of my favorite stew that I'd like to make on a chilly day. It warms me up instantly with tons of great flavor and lots of good-for-me nutrients. I like enjoying it with some good bread that helps to pick up all the yummy sauce.

Delicious Barley Mushroom Casserole

A few simple ingredients make this barley casserole delicious and flavorful. An ideal weekday dinner on a cold winter evening.

Ground Beef Barley Soup

A hearty and comforting classic beef and barley soup that's very easy to make.

Granola for Breakfast

Homemade granola with four rolled grains, honey, nuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg toasted golden brown. A multi-grain breakfast cereal you can customize with your favorite dried fruit.

Beef-Barley Soup

A simple and hearty soup that's perfect for a rainy day or a cold winter night.

Kidney Bean & Barley Chili

In this recipe, we use both salsa and tomato sauce to make this quick and delicious chili. We like serve this warm chili over a toasted hamburger bun, but just having it directly from the pot is absolutely divine.

Breakfast Barley

The barley gains flavor from orange juice combined with apricots and nuts. A healthy breakfast loaded with complex carbohydrates that tastes great too.

Weekday Barley Casserole

Very flavorful. I used baby bella mushrooms and it gave it more depth. If you want to double it be sure to add extra cooking time.

Barley Buttermilk Corn Bread

Old fashioned classic with a twist, a little barley boosts the fiber along with corn kernels makes it more filling. Fills the kitchen with a lovely smell whilst baking.

Barley Mushroom Soup (Vegan)

Very warm and filling. Lots of mushroom flavor and the barley was tender and plump. I used a bit of olive oil to sauté the veggies along with a healthy dose of garlic. Easy to make with easy to find ingredients, perfect for a cool fall or winter day.

Grandma's Chicken & Barley Soup

The way my Grandma used to make it. Very hearty and comforting.

Butternut Squash & Pearl Barley Pilaf

Sweet butternut squash is cooked with pearl barley, fresh lemon zest and lemon juice, tossed with cilantro or parsley. Serve it as a tasty side dish or a delicious and wholesome main course.

Mushroom & Barley Soup (Shulman)

Hearty vegetarian mushroom barley soup with white wine, fresh dill, and a splash of dry sherry. Simmered slowly with pearl barley for thick, satisfying comfort in a bowl.

Vegetable Me'Lange

Rustic vegetable barley soup simmered with carrots, corn, peas, spinach, and garlic in a blended tomato-marjoram broth. Vegan comfort food that feeds 8 from one pot.

Double Stout

Rich, full-bodied homebrew stout made with dark malt extract, roasted barley, and black patent malt for deep chocolate and coffee notes.

Bits-O-Barley Polenta

Make-ahead barley polenta cooked in milk and honey, chilled overnight, then cut into squares, coated in wheat germ, and pan-fried in butter until crispy. A wholesome, nutty breakfast or side dish.

BARLEY PUDDING WITH LAMB

Slow-simmered lamb with crushed garlic and coarsely ground barley cooked in rich lamb broth. A rustic, stick-to-your-ribs dish served with crusty bread.

Redibase Beef & Barley Soup

Hearty beef and barley soup with tender chuck cubes, pearl barley, potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, peas, and mushrooms. A one-pot meal scented with paprika and marjoram.

Favourite Vegan Mushroom & Barley Soup

Mushroom and barley soup built on pearl barley, white wine, and thyme, then finished with a splash of sherry and fresh dill for a deeply savory vegetarian one-pot dinner.

Garlic Soup with Barley & Wild Rice

Vegan garlic soup with pearl barley, wild rice, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Built on a base of 25 mashed garlic cloves simmered in water. Hearty, restorative, and gluten-free with tamari.

Butternut Squash Soup with Honey & Roasted Barley Risotto

Butternut squash soup with honey and a roasted barley risotto center, a restaurant-plated autumn soup where creamy risotto sits in the middle of a pool of silky squash soup. Elegant fall entertaining in a bowl.

Traditional Scotch Broth

Traditional Scottish Scotch broth with mutton, pearl barley, split peas, leeks, cabbage, and root vegetables simmered low and slow into a hearty soup.

Garlic Head Soup

Garlic head soup built on three whole simmered bulbs blended into a brothy base with barley, wild rice, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms, herbed with thyme, rosemary, and dill.

Favourite Mushroom & Barley Soup

Mushroom and barley soup with overnight-soaked pearl barley, butter-sauteed aromatics, and earthy mushrooms simmered in chicken broth. Old-school Eastern European comfort in a bowl.

Freezer Mix Barley Soup

Freezer mix barley soup made with beef-mushroom freezer mix, pearl barley, carrots, and celery. A hearty one-pot meal from frozen to table in about an hour.

Sherried Barley Soup

Sherried barley soup is a hearty mushroom and pearl barley soup deepened with a browned roux, a splash of sherry and Worcestershire. Earthy, savory and thick, the kind of cozy bowl that warms you through.

Mushroom-Short Rib Soup

Mushroom and short rib soup with pearl barley, thyme, and sherry. A hearty, slow-simmered beef soup with chewy barley and earthy mushrooms in every bowl.

Mushroom Veg Barley Soup

Mushroom vegetable barley soup with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, carrots, celery, and pearl barley simmered in chicken broth with thyme and nutmeg.

Sharon's Minestrone

Hearty minestrone soup with bacon, pearl barley, kidney beans, and vegetables in a beefy tomato broth. A thick, filling one-pot soup with Italian herbs and a smoky backbone.

Amazing Hearty Soup

Hearty vegetable beef soup packed with potatoes, barley, winter squash, carrots, celery, peppers, and green beans in a tomato-thyme broth. A big-batch fridge-clearer that feeds 12 and improves overnight.

Hearty Soup Mix & Stock

Hearty homemade soup mix with dried green peas, pearl barley, elbow macaroni, brown rice, and minced onion; builds into a thick beef-and-vegetable soup with carrots, celery, cabbage, and V8.

Paula's Vegetable Barley Stew with Lentils

Paula's vegetable barley stew combines pearl barley with lentils, cabbage, tomatoes, and green chilies in a vegetable stock base. Hearty, high-fiber, and vegan with warm cumin-oregano spicing.

Pot Roast of Turkey with Barley

Pot roast turkey breast simmered with pearl barley, thyme, bay leaves, and a clove-studded onion, served with buttered leeks and cream-enriched barley on a platter.

Sunny Apricot Marbles

No-bake apricot energy balls with pecans, coconut, barley, honey, and lemon juice rolled in chopped nuts. A naturally sweetened, wholesome snack that comes together in one blender.

Beef 'N' Barley Vegetable Soup

Old-fashioned beef and barley vegetable soup built from meaty soup bones simmered low and slow with pearl barley, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and sweet green peas. The kind of soup that warms you from the inside out.

Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Chunky minestrone loaded with red potatoes, white beans, barley, corn, and peas in a crushed tomato broth with leeks and basil. Makes a full gallon for big batch meal prep.

Cozy Chicken Barley Soup

Homemade chicken barley soup with pearl barley, carrots, celery, onion, and sage. Made from scratch with a whole chicken simmered into the broth for deep homestyle flavor.

Bazaar Vegetable Soup

Hearty bazaar vegetable soup with split peas, pearl barley, lima beans, carrots, onion, and dill simmered low and slow until thick and stew-like. Old-fashioned comfort soup for cold days.

All 225 recipes