Barley is a nutritious grain, easy to cook and enjoyable in taste. To look for nutritious whole grains is far better to change the taste than to go for junk food. The grains have got the micro nutrients and to take them occasionally is all the healthy way to curb the need for mineral and vitamin supplements that are artificial and cause burden on liver also. Contrary to the additives, the natural sources have all the nutrients in proper proportion to suit our body.
Moreover, you need not be expert in cooking for cooking barley. It is very easy and simple to cook it. You may cook it directly or may bring the cooking time shorter by a little preparation that is to soak it overnight. If it is not inconvenient for you, presoaking is always better, though it needs prior planning.
Remove the unwanted remnants from the grain that couldn’t be taken care of while processing. Rinse it properly. Soak it in twice as much of water than the barley itself. Simply, soak one bowl of barley in two bowls of water overnight.
You may use fresh water or the soup for boiling it. Whatever you choose to boil it in, take three cups of it for one cup of barley.
Boil the soup or water in the pot before you add the pre-soaked barley in it. Stir it regularly first and then cover it the pot and bring the flame to low. If it is presoaked barley, it takes nearly 15 minutes and if it is not, it would take some 40 minutes to become tender.
And that is all about the cooking. You may take it for a changed taste. For example it can easily replace the rice in your diet or you may take it the way you like.
A few more things should be kept in mind while taking and how to cook barley. The first thing is that it should be preferably bought in bulk once it suits to your taste buds and nutritional conscience. The second point is that it should be taken care of that it is not left in the pot with the broth. It would go waste this way. Keep it always in air tight container while you store it at your home.
