Why Barley? (2024)

With so many grains available, it could be easy to forget some of the more traditional grains in the race to find the next big food trend.

It’s easy to relegate barley to a soup thickening ingredient, when in fact this humble but mighty grain offers a whole lot more.

Using barley in recipes enables you to add an ancient grain claim to the product and, in most cases, it is a more cost-effective ingredient. Add in the health benefits and the super food qualities that barley possess, then the case for barley is hard to ignore. Far from being limited to soups and broths, barley has a role to play at the breakfast, lunch and dinner tables; not to mention in desserts and drinks.

So, where could you use barley, and what are the benefits?

Kick start your day with a barley-packed breakfast

Who doesn’t want to be a Viking! Porridge can be made using barley in place of oats, and when you use wholegrain barley, which hasNordic rootsand were popular with the Vikings, you too are starting your day as a Viking would have whilst getting maximum fibre from the grain.

Wholegrain barley takes quite a long time to cook, so if you are looking for a quicker cook option, you can use pearled barley grains, which also give a good texture to the porridge.

If you want a creamier porridge whilst maintaining the health benefits, wholegrain barley flakes can be used. And mini pearled barley flakes give you the ultimate convenience in terms of porridge making, as they are very quick to hydrate.

And if porridge isn’t your breakfast of choice, barley flakes can be added to muesli blends and granolas as a substitute for some of the oats. Doing so increases the amount of dietary fibre in the products whilst reducing the fat content as oats are naturally higher in fat. In addition, the barley gives a nutty flavour and enables an ancient grain claim to be made.

A lunchtime or evening barley boost

When most people think of barley, they automatically think of broths and soups. Traditionally used as an addition, the plump grains of barley help add substance to the soup or broth and make it more filling.

However, it also works well in a number of other main meals. Whilst it needs a slower cook to get the right texture, using barley as a replacement for white rice in sticky dishes such as risottos, pilaffs and paellas results in rotund grains that give good texture, especially in a creamy risotto base.

Often used in vegetarian burger patties, cooked pearled barley grains can also be combined with beef in burgers to add moistness, make them tender and add nutritional benefits. Similarly, pot and pearled barley grains added to stews and casseroles add nutrients and bulk out the dish, reducing the amount of meat required.

If you are seeking to create a stir fry that is visually different from competitors, pearled barley can give you that difference, with the added bonus of extra nutrients and bulking out the meat or vegetables.

Get your just desserts with barley

Developing a milk-based creamy pudding? Substituting pearled barley for rice adds cooking time, but the plump grains give texture as well as a nutty flavour to the pudding. It also adds more fibre, even if you are using brown rice.

It may sound unlikely, but you can even add barley to ice cream. Toasted barley can be used to infuse flavour into milk used for making ice cream: it pairs well with malt flavours.

Added fibre for baked goods

Barley can be used in lots of baked goods in flour, flaked and kibbled format. Cooked pearl barley can even be used for making breads.

Whilst barley flour does contain some gluten, there is not enough for the dough to effectively rise. Because of this it is mainly used in conjunction with wheat flour or with gluten added. Adding barley flour to bread enhances soluble and insoluble fibre, whilst using flaked or kibbled barley is another way in which you can include barley in the bread to add texture and flavour.

Barley offers lots of scope for creativity, and our experienced NPD team can work with you to build barley into new products. Contact us today and find out more about our products and working with our NPD team.

Why Barley? (2024)

FAQs

Why Barley? ›

Barley is a cereal grain used in bread, beverages, stews, and other dishes. As a whole grain, barley provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients may enhance heart health, help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and more.

What is special about barley? ›

Barley is a cereal grain used in bread, beverages, stews, and other dishes. As a whole grain, barley provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients may enhance heart health, help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and more.

Why is barley better than other grains? ›

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 better for you than rice? ›

Farro and barley, being whole grains, contain more fiber and health benefits than white pasta or white rice. Barley and farro are similar in that they are high in fiber and also contain protein. Fiber content allows barley and farro to play a role in lowering cholesterol and strengthening the immune system.

What is barley best for? ›

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a common grain that is high in fiber. It's consumed in foods and used to brew alcoholic beverages worldwide. The fiber in barley might lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin levels. It also seems to slow stomach emptying which could keep blood sugar stable and help to control appetite.

Which is healthier barley or oatmeal? ›

Depending on what you're looking for in your diet, they certainly stack up differently, but in most cases, barley beats oatmeal to the nutrition punch. Besides helping make you feel full, fiber keeps you regular and helps maintain the health of your GI (gastrointestinal) tract.

Can I eat barley everyday? ›

Barley is the most recommended cereal in Ayurveda for daily consumption. As per the ancient Ayurvedic texts, the beloved cereal is beneficial for keeping weight under control. Many food preparations used in the treatment of various diseases in Ayurveda contain barley as one of their ingredients.

Is barley as healthy as quinoa? ›

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 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.

Why is barley a superfood? ›

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. It can be substituted for any whole grain and easily added to your diet.

Is barley a protein or carb? ›

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 is the healthiest grain? ›

Healthy Grains and How to Enjoy Them
  • Brown Rice. 1/17. In the world of whole grains, you can argue this is the original star. ...
  • Sorghum. 2/17. Many cultures enjoy this ancient cereal grain. ...
  • Buckwheat. 3/17. It isn't a grain or a wheat. ...
  • Barley. 4/17. ...
  • Oats. 5/17. ...
  • Millet. 6/17. ...
  • Quinoa. 7/17. ...
  • Bulgur. 8/17.
Sep 29, 2023

What is better, farro or barley? ›

Farro and barley are quite similar. Both are suitable replacements for wheat grains because you can make flour, porridge, soup, and other meals. Both are rich in protein, although farro has more than barley. Thus, both can be a source of protein for vegetarians or vegan diets.

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.

Why is barley so good? ›

Barley is a very healthy grain. It's rich in vitamins, minerals and other beneficial plant compounds. It's also high in fiber, which is responsible for most of its health benefits, ranging from a better digestion to reduced hunger and weight loss.

What are 2 uses for barley? ›

Grown in a variety of environments, barley is the fourth largest grain crop globally, after wheat, rice, and corn. Barley is commonly used in breads, soups, stews, and health products, though it is primarily grown as animal fodder and as a source of malt for alcoholic beverages, especially beer.

What are the unique characteristics of barley? ›

Barley is lighter than wheat and rye. Important Identifying Characteristics: Barley has long, smooth, sharp pointed auricles which tend to clasp or overlap.

What are two facts about barley? ›

Barley is the fourth most important grain crop in the United States. Barley is one of the most ancient of cultivated grains. It was first discovered growing as a wild grass throughout Asia thousands of years ago. It was later cultivated and consumed by the Chinese as one of their first commercially-grown commodities.

What is the most common use of barley? ›

Globally 70% of barley production is used as animal feed, while 30% is used as a source of fermentable material for beer, or further distilled into whisky, and as a component of various foods.

Is drinking barley everyday good for you? ›

Unstrained barley water is a delicious, simple, and refreshing way to get a hearty dose of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. While too much barley water can put a strain on your digestive system, drinking it a few times a week can help you lose weight and avoid diabetes and heart disease.

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