Beetroot and beet tops pearl barley pilaf
Rich, comforting, and fantastically vibrant, Victoria's beetroot and pearl barley pilaf recipe makes good use of the whole plant, from root to leaf. Using rich, slightly bitter beetroot leaves in the dish adds a pleasing body and contrast to the sweet, earthy beetroot and heady spices. Read Victoria's feature for further tips on using up veg tops and leaves.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves
- 3 cardamom pods , bashed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 50g of unsalted butter
- 1 large onion , finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves , finely sliced
- 1 bird's eye chilli , seeds left in, finely chopped (use two if you prefer a spicier finish)
- 250g of pearl barley
- 700ml of chicken stock, or vegetable stock
- 4 raw beetroots , well-scrubbed and coarsely grated (no need to peel)
- beetroot leaves , stalks finely chopped and leaves roughly chopped
- 1 bunch of coriander , mint or dill (use a small bunch), roughly chopped. If using coriander, the stalks can also be finely chopped and used
- 1 handful of flaked almonds , toasted
- salt
- pepper
Method
1
Dry-fry the spices in a skillet or sauté pan until fragrant. Add half the butter and the onion, garlic and chillies for 5–10 minutes, or until soft, but not coloured
2
In the meantime, put the pearl barley in a sieve and give it a good rinse under running water. Add the barley to the pan, along with the stock and grated beetroot
3
Season generously, give it all a good stir, then bring it up to the boil
4
Once boiling, put the lid on, reduce the heat and leave to simmer gently for about 50–55 minutes. The pearl barley should be soft, but still retain a little bite. You may need to give it another stir halfway through cooking. Try to hold your nerve and not add any extra liquid, you don’t want to end up with soup
5
Stir through the beetroot stalks and leaves and add the remaining butter. Put the lid back on and leave to stand, off the heat, for another 5–10 minutes
6
Taste for seasoning, then lightly fork through the herbs. Scatter over the almonds (if using) before serving
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Beetroot and beet tops pearl barley pilaf
