There are lots of ways to use barley in recipes from breakfast, to main dishes, to sides, and desserts. Try out these delicious vegan barley recipes that are hearty, satisfying, and flavorful.
Jump to:
- FAQs
- Breakfast Recipes
- Barley Breakfast Porridge
- Barley Flakes Apple Porridge
- Soup Recipes
- Mushroom Barley Soup
- Nourishing Lentil Barley Soup
- Barley Minestrone Soup
- Vegan Split Pea Soup with Barley
- Barley White Beans & Kale Soup
- Double Lentil Mushroom Barley Soup
- Sweet Potato Vegetable Barley Soup
- Vegan Barley Stew
- Salad & Side Recipes
- Easy Vegan Barley Kachumber
- Curried Chickpea Salad with Barley
- Vegetable Confetti Barley Salad
- Barley Butternut Squash Salad
- Spiced Barley Salad with Pine Nuts
- Barley Cucumber Salad
- Barley Pilaf
- Vegan Mushroom Sage Orzotto
- Healthy Pearl Barley and Kale Chopped Salad
- Main Dishes
- Vegan Mushroom Barley Burgers
- Barley Pilaf with Rose Harissa,Tomatoes & Olives
- The Best Veggie Pot Pie
- Stuffed Peppers with Barley
- Barley Arancini with Shiitake Mushrooms & Seaweed
- Curried Barley Porridge
- Other Recipes with Barley
- Barley Crepes
- Korean Barley Tea
- Barley Baked Crackers
- Barley Water
- Comments
FAQs
Barley is a type of cereal grain similar to wheat, rye, and oats. It has a slightly nutty and chewy texture. It's used in many different types of recipes like soup, stew, porridge, breads/muffins, and more!
Barley comes in two forms: pearl barley and pot barley. Pearl barley is the most common and is quicker to cook.
No, barley is not gluten-free. It is a cereal grain that is similar to wheat. If you need a gluten-free option, check out these substitutes for barley.
Pearl barley is generally simmered over the stove with water or vegetable broth for 25-30 minutes. Make sure to check package instructions as cook time can vary.
Breakfast Recipes
Barley is great for breakfast as a porridge. It's chewier than oatmeal and tastes amazing with fresh fruit or nuts on top!
Barley Breakfast Porridge
This hearty and delicious barley breakfast porridge is a delicious healthy breakfast. Add some almond milk, nuts, seeds, and honey (optional) for a wholesome breakfast. Make it ahead of time to enjoy throughout the week.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Barley Flakes Apple Porridge
Switch up your morning oats with this cozy barley flakes and apple porridge. It's a healthy and wholesome meal high in fiber that will keep you full all morning!
Total Time: 10 minutes
Soup Recipes
One of the best grains in soup is barley. It absorbs the broth well and adds a great chewy texture to many soups.
Mushroom Barley Soup
Mushroom barley soup is a flavorful, healthy soup that is made with only 6 ingredients! Cook it stovetop or with your Instant Pot.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Nourishing Lentil Barley Soup
Cozy up with a bowl of this lentil barley soup that will fill you up this fall and winter! It has hearty, chewy barley with plant-powered protein from the lentils. Pair with your favorite bread like sourdough or focaccia.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Barley Minestrone Soup
Warm up with this Barley Minestrone Soup that is perfect for a chilly day! It combines lots of veggies like carrots, tomatoes, greens, beans along with nourishing barley.
Total Time: 35 minutes
Vegan Split Pea Soup with Barley
Vegan split pea soup with barley is a hearty meal you can make in one pot! This is an easy recipe that won't require much attention (most of the cook time is it simmering in the pot!).
Total Time: 1 hour
Barley White Beans & Kale Soup
This creamy barley white beans and kale soup is a complete, nourishing meal. It's filled with kale, carrots, white beans, and barley along with fresh thyme for a cozy bowl of soup you will want to make all fall and winter!
Double Lentil Mushroom Barley Soup
Double lentil mushroom barley soup is filled with savory flavors of mushrooms and is high in protein from the lentils. I love to serve this with warm bread, crackers, or a sandwich!
Total Time: 50 minutes
Sweet Potato Vegetable Barley Soup
This flavorful sweet potato vegetable barley soup will surely be your new favorite. It combines hearty veggies, beans, and barley in one pot to create a nourishing soup you will love!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Vegan Barley Stew
Vegetable barley stew is a great weeknight meal you can make in one pot! This recipe is great for leftovers and you can also freeze the leftovers (which will last for a month!)
Total Time: 1 hour
Salad & Side Recipes
Add some barley to a salad for more protein, fiber, and amazing texture! This grain is so versatile- you can incorporate as a stand alone salad, as a topping, or a great side dish!
Easy Vegan Barley Kachumber
Barley Kachumber is a delicious Indian side dish with a mix of vegetables and pearl barley. This is also an oil free recipe!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Curried Chickpea Salad with Barley
This curried chickpea salad with barley is easy to make and is great for leftovers as a lunch! You will love the curry flavor with the chewy barley and the wholesome chickpeas.
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Vegetable Confetti Barley Salad
Pearled barley is at the heart of this delicious summer salad. You will love this delicious summer salad! Vegetable confetti barley salad comes together in less than 20 minutes and is drizzled with a quick, fresh vinaigrette.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Barley Butternut Squash Salad
This barley butternut squash salad is a delicious fall salad with pomegranate, dried cranberries and rosemary. You will love the tangy cranberry vinaigrette on top!
Total Time: 40 minutes
Spiced Barley Salad with Pine Nuts
This spiced barley salad with pine nuts and raisins is a simple, nutritious salad that can be enjoyed by itself, as a side dish, or on top of a salad!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Barley Cucumber Salad
Enjoy this refreshing barley cucumber salad in the summertime with fresh parsley and mint. Toss with a fresh dijon vinaigrette for a wholesome, delicious salad!
Total Time: 50 minutes
Barley Pilaf
Vegan Barley Pilaf Recipe is an easy one-pot recipe with pearl barley and fresh veggies. This can enjoyed as a healthy side dish or even a light lunch!
Total Time: ~ 40 minutes
Vegan Mushroom Sage Orzotto
This vegan mushroom sage orzotto combines mushrooms, onion, garlic, sage, and barley for a simple, comforting dish you will love! This is a great side dish for the holidays.
Total Time: 55 minutes
Healthy Pearl Barley and Kale Chopped Salad
This wholesome healthy pearl barley and kale chopped salad combines barley with kale and fresh, crunchy veggies. Toss with a homemade lemon dijon dressing! This is a great summertime dish for picnics, cookouts, or lunches.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Main Dishes
Barley is a hearty grain that is packed with fiber to make you feel full longer. Incorporate it into your main meals with these dishes.
Vegan Mushroom Barley Burgers
These Vegan Mushroom-Barley Burgers are so satisfying and easy to make. You can either bake them (oil-free) or grill/pan sear them!
Total Time: 45 minutes
Barley Pilaf with Rose Harissa,Tomatoes & Olives
Harissa barley pilaf is the perfect weeknight meal that doesn't take long to prepare. You will love the flavorful rose harissa with tomatoes and olives!
The Best Veggie Pot Pie
This veggie pot pie recipe is a comforting meal made with barley, mushrooms, leeks, and more. You will love the buttery puff pastry topping!
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Stuffed Peppers with Barley
These barley stuffed peppers with basil & feta are an easy weeknight dinner with hearty barley, fresh basil, and creamy feta crumbles inside a vibrant, crisp bell pepper. It's a mouthwatering dinner that's also perfect for meal prep and freezer friendly!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Barley Arancini with Shiitake Mushrooms & Seaweed
These Vegan Shiitake Mushroom Barley Arancini are a crispy delicious appetizer. It has hints of nutritional yeast and seaweed to give it a umami flavor!
Total Time: 6 hours (includes refrigeration time).
Curried Barley Porridge
This creamy curried barley porridge is a nourishing and flavorful meal made with red lentils, peas, and barley.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Other Recipes with Barley
Thought you'd heard of all the ways to use barley? Not yet! Try this amazing grain in crackers, as a cool, refreshing drink that is popular in Asia, or delicious crepes
Barley Crepes
Barley crepes are a great alternative to rice and is a great addition for Indian recipes. Pair it with chutney or sambhar!
Total Time: 6 hours (includes soaking time)
Korean Barley Tea
Roasted Korean barley tea (boricha/ mugicha/ damaicha) has a delicious nutty flavor and only needs only 2 ingredients. Enjoy hot or cold!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Barley Baked Crackers
Baked Barley Crackers are quick to make and also store great for leftovers. They are nutty, crisp, and pair great with tea or coffee.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Barley Water
Barley Water is a healthy, refreshing drink that is actually filled with lots of nutrients! There's three ways to make this drink at home. Enjoy during the summer for a cooling beverage.
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes (includes soaking time)
▶︎Which barley recipe are you excited to try? Comment below!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
That is such a wonderful list of recipes! I love barley and it is one of my favorite whole grain. I can’t wait to try a few of these soon!
Janelle says
Some delicious recipes on here. I am a huge fan of barley and I look forward to trying some of these.
Karen Henry says
We're a huge lover of Barley. I put Barley in all my soups and stews. Pearl Barley is a must in stew for us.
Jessica says
I tried a couple of these barley recipes, and they're a pleasant surprise! Barley is a little outside my culinary comfort zone but its hearty texture and nutty flavor had me sold. Plus, the recipes are so versatile - a fantastic addition to my plant-based menu.
Sage Scott says
Before reading this post, I'd only had barley in soup. I tried the breakfast porridge this morning, and it was so yummy! I'm going to be excited to add it into rotation with oatmeal as the weather gets colder here.
Sarah says
OMG - this is JUST what I needed. I've been trying to incorporate more whole grains and this was perfect! I've already tried the Stuffed Peppers and the Spiced Barley Salad and they were great. Thank you!
Janice says
I will never run out of recipes to try thanks to this post! I recently tried the barley flakes and apple porridge, and it was so delicious! I'm excited to try the others!
Erin says
I made the barley soup and it came out so well! I can't wait to try your other recipes. They all look wonderful! Thanks a bunch.