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How to make mushroom barley risotto #healthyeating

This risotto is made with barley instead of white rice which gives it a great flavour. Enjoy!

16
STEPS
INGREDIENTS

I love the creamy, comfort of a risotto but this is a great alternative when I'm trying to eat healthier as it uses the whole grain, barley, rather than white rice. This serves two

Start by choosing your mushrooms. I like a mixture but all the same would be fine. In total you probably want about the equivalent of 12 medium ones

Start by choosing your mushrooms. I like a mixture but all the same would be fine. In total you probably want about the equivalent of 12 medium ones

Chop the mushrooms. I like to cut some in chunks, dice some and slice some

Chop the mushrooms. I like to cut some in chunks, dice some and slice some

Saut\u00e9 them in a little olive or rapeseed oil with some thyme on a fairly high heat

Sauté them in a little olive or rapeseed oil with some thyme on a fairly high heat

You want them to be quite brown

You want them to be quite brown

I added some porcini powder at the end, but if you can't get hold of any soak some dried porcini and add them and the liquid to the risotto towards the end.  Put to one side

I added some porcini powder at the end, but if you can't get hold of any soak some dried porcini and add them and the liquid to the risotto towards the end. Put to one side

Cut up one leek and saut\u00e9 in a little oil on a low to medium heat until softening

Cut up one leek and sauté in a little oil on a low to medium heat until softening

Add two crushed garlic cloves

Add two crushed garlic cloves

Once the leeks start to soften add two handfuls of barley

Once the leeks start to soften add two handfuls of barley

Add a chicken stock cube

Add a chicken stock cube

Add about a wine glass worth of boiling water, stir until it is absorbed. Add the water gradually, about half a litre in total. Put the lid on and cook for about 20 mins. Stir occasionally.

Add about a wine glass worth of boiling water, stir until it is absorbed. Add the water gradually, about half a litre in total. Put the lid on and cook for about 20 mins. Stir occasionally.

Once nearly all if the water has absorbed add the mushrooms, some chopped parsley and salt and pepper

Once nearly all if the water has absorbed add the mushrooms, some chopped parsley and salt and pepper

Add a spoonful of low fat cream cheese, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and a grating of Parmesan. Stir well.

Add a spoonful of low fat cream cheese, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and a grating of Parmesan. Stir well.

Serve in bowls with a little more Parmesan.

Find more recipes in my other guides or at www.theschoolofbalance.com and follow me on twitter @schoolbalance or The School of Balance on Facebook

  • Approx 12 mushrooms
  • Thyme
  • Porcini mushroom powder or dried porcinis
  • 1 leek
  • Two handfuls of barley
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • 1/2 litre water
  • Parsley
  • 1 tbsp low fat cream cheese
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Parmesan cheese