Q: My dad gave me 30 bags of rolled barley. Any ideas for what can I make with it?
Sent by Pinguino
Editor: We find rolled barley most commonly as an ingredient in oatmeal or porridge. They can be a little much on their own, I've found, but are great mixed with oats, buckwheat, and other grains.
You could also throw them into breads or muffins, granola, or even cookies. Try subbing your rolled barley one-for-one for the oats in these recipes:
• Apple Gouda Oatmeal Cookies • Quick and Homey Oatmeal Raisin Muffins • Cardamom Oatmeal Pancakes
Related: Oatmeal in Jars: Make a Week of Breakfast in 5 Minutes
(Image: Africa Studio/Shutterstock)

Comments (11)
Heidi's recipe calls for any kind of rolled whole grain: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/toasted-four-grain-cereal-recipe.html
I mix them with oatmeal for granola, or with other grains for hot cereal. And I've whirled the flakes in the food processor to make flour which I've used in pancakes, muffins, etc.
How about a granola--just as you would use rolled oats? The Cheese Board cookbook has one of my favorite granola recipes, and thanks to this site, I recently tried using coconut oil in place of the butter and it was delicious.
Beer?
Thanks, guys! I really love the apple-cheese cookies idea. I wasn't sure if they could be subbed with the same cooking times.
Manjar- my friend's looking into it. sounds like they have to be toasted first, but might be doable.
I second the beer notion, throw that in a nice Imperial Stout or just a regular old stout / porter.
Cheers
Branch out, fellow foodies! Barley is a tasty grain that can be used as a substitute for soft polenta or small pasta.
Serve it as a base for a tasty stew or ragu. Place a portion of cooked barley in your bowl, then add the topping -- beef stroganoff, chicken cacciatore, etc.
Add cooked barley to soups. I love, love, love making a chicken/mushroom soup with plenty of onions and celery, adding cooked barley, and finishing with a splash of seasoned rice vinegar.
Toast it first, saute with some aromatics, then cook like a pilaf. Barley flakes absorb buttery flavors beautifully.
Boyfriend says beer.
What is up with dads giving weird gifts like this? My dad gave me two pounds of poppy seeds the other day "so I could learn how to make levkar from scratch like my great-grandmother." He also casually mentioned I would need to buy a special, dedicated grinder to so.
I don't even like poppy seeds! And I've never expressed a desire to make poppy seed levkar from scratch, purchase expensive dedicate seed crushers, and never met the great-grandmother.
Ha ha. My Dad just sends me gallon jugs of maple syrup. Yum. Probably would be good on the barley.