Pearl barley with stew

Step-by-step cooking

1. Step 1:

   

   Before we start cooking, we need to soak the pearl barley in cold water for one hour. Pour the pearl barley so that the water covers it by 1.5-2 centimeters.

2. Step 2:

   

   After the specified time, drain the water. Put the pearl barley in a saucepan, pour 3 cups of water and put it on a high heat on the stove. After boiling, reduce the stove to a minimum and cook the pearl barley under a half-closed lid for about 50-60 minutes. Periodically open the lid and stir the contents of the pan so that the cereal does not burn to the bottom.

3. Step 3:

   

   While cooking cereals, look if there is enough water in the pan. If the stove is turned on for a little more than a minimum, then the water may boil off before the prescribed time. In this case, add quite a bit of boiling water to the pan and continue to cook until the cereals are ready.

4. Step 4:

   

   Prepare everything else for cooking.

5. Step 5:

   

   Peel the onion, carrot and garlic. Rinse the vegetables, bay leaf and herbs under running water.

6. Step 6:

   

   Cut the carrot into thin circles, then the circles can be cut in half. Slicing into small cubes is also suitable, in the recipe I did exactly that. Chop the onion not very coarsely, and chop the garlic by hand arbitrarily.

7. Step 7:

   

   Frozen fat is usually always present on top in a jar with stew. We will use it for frying vegetables. If there is no fat or very little, then use 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Collect the fat with a spoon and send it to the frying pan.

9. Step 8:

   

   Add onions and carrots to the same place. Send the vegetables to fry over high heat. Do not forget to mix everything continuously, otherwise there is a risk that onions and carrots will burn. It took me about one minute to fry.

10. Step 9:

    

    Disassemble the stew into small pieces (you can do this with a fork, spoon or knife).

11. Step 10:

    

    Send the pieces of meat and bay leaf to the pan, stir and cook for about a minute.

12. Step 11:

    

    Add pearl barley to the meat.

13. Step 12:

    

    Mix everything thoroughly again and add half a glass of water. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat to medium and cook the dish for 10 minutes.

14. Step 13:

    

    Try the pearl barley for salt. Why do you need to try it at the end of cooking and not add salt earlier? Usually the stew itself is slightly salty and it is possible that salt will be enough for you. If there is not enough salt, then add salt to taste. Add your favorite seasonings and spices as well (the recipe used fragrant and ground sweet red pepper). Sprinkle the pearl barley with finely chopped herbs, mix and let it brew for about 5 minutes.

15. Step 14:

    

    A fragrant and very satisfying dish is ready!