This Kale & Squash Pearl Barley Risotto is proper winter-warmer comfort food.... not refined restaurant-food by any stretch, but simple and hearty home-cooked grub that will fill you up and warm you through on a chilly evening. Be warned that pearl barley doubles in size during cooking, so what looks like a measly saucepan of ingredients becomes huge portions + leftovers for lunch in the blink of an eye.
Kale & Squash Pearl Barley Risotto
A hearty and comforting supper, using pearl barley in a classic risotto recipe.
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion peeled and finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
- 600 g butternut squash peeled and chopped into 1cm chunks
- 250 g pearl barley
- 150 ml white wine
- 750 ml vegetable stock
- 100 g curly kale stalks removed
- salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp thyme leaves
- zest of 1 lemon
- handful pine nuts toasted in a dry frying pan for a minute or two
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, and cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes until softened. Add the butternut squash, and cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Add the pearl barley and white wine to the pan, turn up the heat and cook for 3 minutes until most of the wine has cooked away.
- Add the stock, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the curly kale, and cook for a further 5 minutes until the pearl barley is tender, but still a little chewy. Remove from the heat, stir through the thyme and lemon zest, then divide between bowls and scatter with the pine nuts to serve.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 449kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 9gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 775mgPotassium: 909mgFiber: 13gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 18941IUVitamin C: 67mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 4mg
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Oooh that risotto looks delicious Kate - the ThermoCook is certainly a fantastic piece of kit!!
Thanks Jan! Yes still getting to grips with it, but its quite amazing what it can do!
I'm really looking forward to starting play with my ThermoCook. We did have a similar device on loan a few years ago and loved it so I'm very excited to start using this one. I love pearl barley in risotto-style dishes, so this is a good inspirational start!
Thanks Kavey, look forward to seeing what you get up to with yours!
The Thermocook sounds like of f those machines that everyone should get for Christmas.
I definitely think so Bintu!
I love that this gadget has so many functions. The price is a bit eye watering though... Your risotto looks delicious - you are making me super hungry!