Description
This hearty pearl barley risotto is a delicious twist on the classic, packed with roasted vegetables and deep flavors. It’s vegan-friendly, great for meal prep, and just as delicious cold the next day. Perfect for a comforting and nutritious meal!
Ingredients
Scale
For the roasted vegetables:
- 250g vine tomatoes
- 1 courgette, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Generous pinch of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme
For the risotto base:
- 2 tbsp vegan butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large shallot (or red onion), finely chopped
- 250g pearl barley
- 200ml white wine
- 1.2L boiling water + 1 vegetable stock cube
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp fresh parsley (or dried)
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 200°C (fan).
-
Roast the vegetables:
- Add tomatoes, courgette, and bell pepper to a roasting tray.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme.
- Toss everything together and roast for 30 minutes.
-
Cook the risotto base:
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the vegan butter and sauté the shallot for 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Stir in the pearl barley and toast for 1-2 minutes.
-
Deglaze & simmer:
- Pour in the white wine and let it simmer until mostly absorbed.
- Add dried thyme and start adding vegetable stock one cup at a time, letting it absorb before adding more.
-
Final touches:
- Once all the stock is absorbed (about 30 minutes total), stir in roasted vegetables, lightly mashing the tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Cover and let simmer for 15 more minutes, or until the barley is soft.
-
Season & serve:
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley, an extra pinch of salt and pepper, and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Keeps well in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Tastes great cold or reheated!
- Wine Substitute: Use extra veggie stock + 1 tbsp lemon juice instead.
- Extra Creamy: Stir in 1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg