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Published: Feb 3, 2017 · Modified: Nov 13, 2021 by Trish · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

Barley with Lemon and Kale

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a bowl of barley and kale with lemon and red chili pepper in background
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
A hearty side-dish or vegetarian main dish. Barley, lots of greens with lemon and garlic for a little kick.
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 203kcal
Vegetarian
Main Course, Side Dish

Barley with lemon and kale. This is the barley dish that may actually get you loving barley's whole grain goodness.

barley and kale, lemon, chili peppers and garlic

Barley. I have to admit, it's a hard one. I've tried and failed.. so many times with barley. Believe me. Even with a few successful barley recipes... like this one, or this one... in general, I think barley gives whole grains a bad rap. It's just hard to work with.

Barley is not as universal as some other grains. Rice or quinoa just seem to work with whatever, wherever, but barley is kinda picky about what flavours it plays nice with.

Barley with Lemon and Kale in a bowl, lemon in the background

This dish was a total surprise to me. Barley with Lemon and Kale. The ratio of greens and grains is just so perfect. The magic rule here - more greens than grains. I didn't know. But it works. I used just half a cup of uncooked barley for this dish. And a whole bundle of kale leaves. The kale will seem excessive when you first add it to the fry pan, but it will cook down. You need lots of lemon and garlic is good too.

fresh grated lemon zest and zester

This garlickly, lemony combination has renewed my love for whole, hearty grains. Greens and grains go so well together.

Barley with Lemon and Kale in a bowl

A few notes on Barley with Lemon and Kale

  • Be generous with all the flavour - lemon and garlic. The barley can take it. It needs it.
  • A little spice from red chili flakes makes the the lemon sing
  • I used pearl barley when I tested this recipe. You can use pot or pearl barley interchangeably in most recipes - and I think this is true here as well. I don't find the difference significant.
  • Barley is NOT gluten-free
  • To cook barley, the easiest - in my opinion - is to boil a generous amount of well salted water, add the grains, then turn the pot to a simmer for 40 minutes. Test the barley, to see if it is tender, then drain off the excess water.
  • Leftovers make the best packed lunch

📖 Recipe

a bowl of barley and kale with lemon and red chili pepper in background
4.24 from 17 votes

Barley with Lemon and Kale

A hearty side-dish or vegetarian main dish. Barley, lots of greens with lemon and garlic for a little kick.
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 203kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup pearl barley
  • salted water - a least 1 quart
  • 1 lb of fresh kale
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 small onions finely chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic crushed
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • zest of one lemon
  • juice from one lemon
  • olive oil for tossing

Instructions

Cook barley

  • Bring 1 quart of salted water to a boil in a medium sized sauce pan, add barley and cook until tender. About 45 minutes. To drain pour water and barley through a large mesh sieve and set over the pot (off the heat) to drain completely while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.

For the kale:

  • Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and then the chopped onions. Saute onions until soft and slightly caramelized. This will take about 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute for another minute or two. Toss in hot pepper flakes, stir a bit, then add kale (it will seem like so, so much kale, but it will cook down). Continue to saute until the kale is tender and wilted - 5 to 7 minutes - then remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl, or in the cooling saute pan, toss barley, kale and lemon zest together. Sprinkle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with a little of your favourite rich tasting extra virgin olive oil and serve.

Notes

Be generous with the lemon and garlic, barley can take lots of flavours
Barley is not a gluten-free grain. 
I tested this recipe with pearl barley. You can use pot barley if you wanted, it will take slightly longer to cook but otherwise is interchangeable in this recipe. 
Calories: 203kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 36g (12%) Protein: 8g (16%) Fat: 5g (8%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 60mg (3%) Potassium: 734mg (21%) Fiber: 5g (21%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 11558IU (231%) Vitamin C: 141mg (171%) Calcium: 198mg (20%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
Trish | The In Fine Balance Food Blog
Tried this recipe?Mention @infinebalance or tag #infinebalance!

Helpful tools for this recipe:

fry pan with a lid
garlic press
blue serving bowls

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.24 from 17 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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  1. palak bhatti says

    February 27, 2017 at 7:10 am

    wow i love your all recipes thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Trish says

      September 03, 2021 at 10:34 pm

      Thank you!

  2. Brigitte says

    September 03, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this , so easy yet so delicious !!! I served it with oven baked cod with roasted tomatoes , garlic , herbs , olives and artichokes it was sublime . Thanks easy yummy healthy I didn’t change a thing .

    Reply
    • Trish says

      September 03, 2021 at 10:33 pm

      😍😍

  3. Cid says

    January 19, 2024 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    So easy and so delicious! Go heavy with garlic, onion and zest!

    Reply

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Trish Cowper

Hi. I'm Trish.

I'm a curious home cook, just as enthusiastic about healthy ingredients and whole foods as I am about cookies.

more about me →

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