Creamy Barley Risotto Recipe

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Creamy Barley Risotto Recipe

This Creamy Barley Risotto is so healthy, you could have a big ole' bowl of it and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

Course: Main Dish

Keyword: healthyish, risotto, vegetarian

Servings:

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $8.00

Equipment

Stock Pot
Large Skillet

Ingredients

6 cups Low-Sodium Vegetable Stock / Broth
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium Onion, finely chopped (should measure about 3/4 cup)
1.5 cups Pearled Barley
1/2 cup Dry White Wine
3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
3/4 cups Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus extra for serving
Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Pour stock into a medium pot and bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and keep warm.
In a large skillet, with deep sides, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the barley, stirring until all of the grains are evenly coated in olive oil. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.
Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is nearly all absorbed.
Add 1 cup of the warm stock to the pan, and continue stirring, until the stock is nearly all absorbed. Continue cooking the barley this way, adding the stock a bit at a time and stirring frequently, until the barley is tender enough to eat but still has a slight chew, about 50 minutes.
Add any of the optional add-ins and continue cooking for a couple minutes, just until the ingredients are heated through.
Remove the dish from the heat and gently stir in the butter and cheese. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve immediately, with extra grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on the top.

Notes

Note: The finished risotto should be creamy but not soupy. I found that I needed to cook it for between 50 and 60 minutes, and used nearly all of the stock. If you run out of stock, simply keep adding water until the barley is cooked.

Based on Creamy Barley Risotto from Food and Wine, with variations as recommended in Barley Risotto with Beans and Greens from Smitten Kitchen and using tips from Mark Bittman.

Nutrition