Pearl barley risotto with roasted squash, red peppers and rocket
- Published: 31 Jan 08
- Updated: 18 Mar 24
Even though this vegetarian risotto recipe is low-fat, it’s still hearty and comforting – great for the colder nights.
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Serves 4
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Ready in about 1 hour
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Ingredients
- 450g peeled butternut squash, cut into 2cm chunks
- 2 red peppers, halved, deseeded and cut into chunky pieces
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Leaves from 3 large, fresh thyme sprigs
- 350g pearl barley
- 1.5 litres vegetable stock, hot
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley
- 4 small handfuls wild rocket
- Vegetarian Parmesan shavings, to serve
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Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Put the squash and peppers in a small roasting tin, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season and toss. Roast for 35 minutes or until tender, turning halfway, then remove from the oven and set aside.
- Meanwhile, start the risotto. Heat the remaining oil in a medium pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme leaves and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, until softened. Add the pearl barley and cook for 1 minute.
- Add a quarter of the stock to the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all the stock has been absorbed. Add another quarter of the stock and continue in this way until all the stock is absorbed – it should take about 40 minutes for the barley to be tender but still al dente.
- Stir in the parsley followed by the squash and peppers. Season and spoon into warmed bowls. Serve topped with the rocket and some Parmesan shavings.
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- Recipe from February 2008 Issue
Nutrition
Nutrition: per serving
- Calories
- 486kcals
- Fat
- 9.2g (1.9g saturated)
- Protein
- 12.7g
- Carbohydrates
- 93.8g (13.7g sugars)
- Salt
- 0.6g
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I love this recipe because, its tasty, easy to make and reasonably cheap and a great way to use the wonderful pearl barley, I would never had thought of using it in a risotto but it really works well absorbs the liquid well and like risotto rice dosen’t dry out a real fav in our house now with the kids
I love this recipe because I adore trying new ingredients and it’s given me the courage to give pearly barley a whirl! I think even my fussy other half would love it!