Barley is slightly chewy in texture and nutty in taste. The time to cook barley varies according to whether the grain has the outer shell removed or no. Barley may require soaking before cooking to fasten the cooking process.

Healthy Indian Barley, Jau recipes

Barley, or Jau, is a grain that should be incorporated in everyone's diet. Not only does it really help in losing weight due to its high fiber content, it also helps combat diseases like cancer and diabetes. See here for detailed benefits of barley.  As I already mentioned, you can replace rice with barley. Barley Vegetable Khichdi is the perfect recipe to experiment like this. With different vegetables and tadka but the same cooking method, no one would realize that they are not eating rice!

barley moong dal vegetable khichdi recipe | jau dal vegetable khichdi | healthy barley khichdi with vegetables | acidity friendly khichdi |

If you don’t want to go the extra mile, you can simply make Barley and Moong Dal Khichdi.

barley moong dal khichdi recipe | healthy barley yellow moong dal khichdi for weight loss | jau dal khichdi |

Just plain Barley Water can also do wonders for you. It not only aids digestion but is also great for those with a sensitivity to food. Soups too are a great way to pack in some health.

homemade strained barley water recipe | clear fluid diet | barley water clear liquid diet | barley water after surgery |

Mushroom Barley Soup, a flavorful, clear soup with hints of onions and garlic, will make you forget all mushroom soups!

mushroom soup with barely recipe | Indian barley mushroom soup | healthy vegan barley mushroom soup |

Barely, Jau used in Indian breakfast 

1. barley urad dal dosa is a nutritious dosa made with a batter of barley and urad, perked up with a tongue-tickling Mysore chutney. The Mysore chutney is famous for its balanced blend of varied flavour tones such as sweet, sour and spicy.

Mysore Barley Dosa

Barley Recipes for Snacks

You'd be surprised when you find out the amount of stuff you can make with barley that isn’t boring! For example – Barley Idli. A twist to the south Indian classic, this dish is made with a rice, urad dal and barley batter AND stuffed with different vegetables, making it one of the most innovative snacks.

Barley Idli

Another great way snack is a Barley, Feta and Spinach Salad! The nuttiness of barley combined with the saltiness of feta cheese and crunchy vegetables makes for a perfect evening snack.

barley feta and spinach salad recipe | Indian pearl barley with spinach and feta | healthy Mediterranean spinach and barley salad |

Benefits of Barley (Jao) : Barley is diabetic and pregnancy friendly. A high fiber diet for years has been paired with reduced risk of heart disease. The fiber (2.73 g) from barley helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. Additionally folate, potassium and magnesium also work together to support a healthy heart.  The B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin and niacin) along with magnesium and potassium have been identified in supporting nerve health and lowering high blood pressure. See here for 9 benefits of barley and why you should eat it.

Hope you liked this collection of Vegetarian Barley Recipes. Scroll below for the best barley recipes!