INGREDIENTS – Barley – Salt – Bacon – EVOO – Garlic – Gruyere cheese – Milk – Cornstarch – Broth – Pepper – Chives
Barley is a great alternative to rice or pasta and it is easy to put together. This dish is similar to risotto but easier. Nutty, smokey and hearty, this dish serves up a yummy dish for dinner. Garlic, bacon and gruyere give barley a wonderful make-over so it's not boring!
Barley is a grain that is typically sold as Pearled but you can also find Hulled barley. Hulled Barley has more fiber and nutrients because it still has the bran. Pearl has both the husk and bran layers removed. It’s still very nutritious, but without the bran, has less fiber and nutrients than the Hulled version.
Dice and fry up the bacon.
Cook the Barley then drain off the excess water and then set aside. Barley does take longer than rice to cook because it's boiled and not steamed.
In the skillet that the bacon was cooked in, saute the garlic , and then stir in the broth, cornstarch slurry and ground pepper.
Stir in the cheese and half the chives until its creamy.
Stir in the cooked barley, and top with the remaining chives.