Although black barley has been around forever, it hasn't been popular with farmers because of its moodiness in the fields. Now available at Cali's Natural Foods, black barley is the surprise grain of the year!
I wanted to explore the possibilities of this little grain for myself. Black barley looks very similar to a plumper, darker cousin to wheat. It cooks pretty much the same as barley in a soup, and would be fun in a rice dish for added color and texture. And because it is edible with its hull and all, you get more nutrition and fiber.
The real surprise came when I sprouted the little jewels. The barley in the photo on the left is the dry, unsprounted version; on the right, the kernels that started the day as barely having tails to almost oversprouted that night.
They were tasty and satisfying, good for all day snacking to quench cravings for other foods. They would make a great addition to a raw food diet. They lend themselves well to morning cereal rooutines with walnut milk, or raw pasta dishes with marinara sauce on top.
The sprouted barley was shared and enjoyed by several others, with overall very favorable comments.
They were tasty and satisfying, good for all day snacking to quench cravings for other foods. They would make a great addition to a raw food diet. They lend themselves well to morning cereal rooutines with walnut milk, or raw pasta dishes with marinara sauce on top.
The sprouted barley was shared and enjoyed by several others, with overall very favorable comments.
Definitely a keeper!
