mushrooms and peas ...pasta style...but no pasta , it's pearl barley...


Mushrooms and peas make one of the most favorite vegetables combo in my household and as i do with all the favorite vegetables , i use them to make the healthier sounding dishes more exciting . Coarse grains sound the most healthy and as it happens many people are driven off by such healthier sounding names . Barley is one of the healthy whole grains i love cooking and luckily the husband has also discovered a liking for it , especially if it is cooked like pasta .... so pearl barley often plays pasta on my table... accompanied by the favorite list of vegetables .....smart camouflage...isn't it?

The recipe isn't a complex thing here so i will just discuss the quick toss and a relaxed eat . You decide the proportions of whatever is being used, as much mushrooms as you like and as much peas you like ans as much seasonings ....i generally take care to keep lesser grains than the vegetables so that there is more nutrient value per calorie consumed ... more fiber too , and that means packed with flavors too as the seasonings and herbs are used liberally too...




So there is extra virgin olive oil , a bit of butter , lots of garlic , sun dried tomatoes chopped in thin strips , red chilly flakes , sliced red onions , sliced mushrooms and boiled peas ...a quick stir frying and tossing ...adding salt n pepper , some oregano  and soaking in all the whiff of aroma ... you would love cooking it believe me...




Did I say boil the pearl barley in advance ?




Okay I do that in pressure cooker adding twice the amount of water to barley . Cook the vegetables just as to retain their color and texture , preserving the best flavors within them and toss in the cooked barley .... like you would be adding some cooked pasta ... you may like to add some of the water left after draining the barley ...there is not much left when you boil in a pressure cooker like this...



Just let everything mix well and serve hot ... ready within 20 minutes if you boil the barley while you chop the vegetables , plus 5 minutes to toss everything up together...


I sometimes add barley to a pasta dish and sometimes skip the pasta altogether , it depends what vegetables i am using ...if the vegetables are something to enjoy more the pasta can be dumped altogether ...have you tried pearl barley playing pasta ?

I have posted some similar things earlier, a pearl barley dinner made with a pasta sauce. ...do tell me if you have tried any of them ...or try this one and see how it becomes a favorite in the first trial :)

Comments

  1. Wow, that sure sounds tasty,would definitely give a try.

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  2. Hey, that sure is way healthier than pasta :)

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  3. Heyyyyyy, is there any alternative to sun-dried tomatoes if one doesn't have these handy at home, as am sure sun-dried tomatoes would surely enhance the flavour of the dish.....

    Is there a way I could make sun-dried tomatoes on gas stove? Have seen recipes that require oven / sun light...

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