Barley Butternut Squash Pilaf Recipes

BARLEY-BUTTERNUT SQUASH PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat; add squash, onion a bell pepper. Cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add barley; cook, stirring often, until toasted slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Add broth, water, sage thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Cover; heat to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook covered until barley is just tender about 35 minues. Remove from heat, stir lemon zest.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PILAF

Steps:

• Place a large pan over a medium heat. Add the oil and onion, and cook gently until softened, around 5 mins. Tip in the spice blend, butternut squash and rice, and fry until everything is sizzling and coated in the spices. Add the ginger and garlic, fry for 30 secs more, then scatter in the fruit & nut mix. Stir in the stock and put the lid on the pan. Keep covered but stir regularly, every 5 mins or so, for 20 mins.
• Once the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed, serve at once on a large platter topped with crispy fried onions and chopped parsley, if you like.

WEIGHT WATCHERS BARLEY WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, APPLES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to a boil in a medium saucepan; add barley. Cover saucepan and simmer barley until tender, about 30 to 35 minutes; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add squash and cook, stirring often, until it's starting to soften--about five minutes. Add the onion and red pepper and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
• Stir in apple, garlic, thyme, black pepper and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring, until apple is almost tender, about 2 minutes; stir in broth, scraping bottom of skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Stir in cooked barley; toss over low heat to mix and coat. Remove from heat and serve. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
• *To make this vegetarian, use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.

PEARL BARLEY, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAGE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add 25g/1oz of the butter and, once melted, add the onion and squash along with a pinch of salt. Gently fry for 10 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and the squash is softening. Add the garlic and continue to cook for two minutes, or until aromatic.
• In a separate pan, warm the stock and half of the sage leaves.
• Add 25g/1oz of the butter to the onion and squash and, once melted, add the pearl barley. Turn up the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn down the heat to medium and add a ladleful of warm stock. Stir well to mix and, once absorbed, add another ladleful, stirring now and again. Repeat this process until the stock is used up and the pearl barley is tender (about 30 minutes).
• Once the barley is tender, taste and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the remaining butter to the pan and stir through.
• Serve the risotto garnished with the remaining sage.