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Home » Main Meals

Curried Barley Porridge (Easy & Vegan)

Published: Nov 28, 2020 · Modified: Apr 8, 2022 by Janelle Hama

Jump to Recipe

A cozy and savory bowl of creamy curried barley porridge with red lentils and peas, resulting in a flavorsome and nourishing meal.

Barley Porridge
A creamy bowl of curried barley porridge

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Jump to:
  • 😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • ✔️Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 🍛How To Cook Barley Porridge
  • ⭐ Pro Tips 
  • 🍛Variations
  • ❓FAQ
  • 🥣Serving Suggestions
  • 🍲Related Recipes
  • Curried Barley Porridge (Easy and Vegan)

😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • A ridiculously simple and tasty vegan meal.
  • Cost-effective - doesn’t use expensive ingredients and is filling
  • A great source of fiber 
  • Makes a great camping meal (one of our favorite meals when camping)

Just a note for those who are gluten-free, barley does naturally contain gluten. For a grain that is gluten-free check out how to cook buckwheat.

If you're into camping, check out this way of foil cooking (though not plant-based)

✔️Ingredients You’ll Need

Barley recipe porridge ingredients

The full list of ingredients, quantities and cooking methods can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Pearl barley is great in soups, stews, porridges, salads and more. This grain also offers a good range of vitamins, minerals, and other health benefits. You can easily find this ingredient at your local supermarket of found online (affiliate link). 

Red lentils cook so easily and are a good source of protein and fiber. I also use them in my popular Lebanese lentil soup recipe.

Peas (frozen) add a lovely sweetness. You can leave these out if you prefer.

Brown onion - should be finely diced

Curry powder - I prefer to use Keens curry powder (affiliate link)

Vegetable stock - Massel (affiliate link) is a good option it's gluten-free and plant-based. If you are on a WFPB no oil diet, make sure the vegetable stock/broth you are using is oil-free.

Optional Olive Oil - Opt for extra virgin olive oil or you can leave this out if you are not cooking with oil. Replace with a couple of tablespoons of veggie stock.

I alter between the two methods and both are equally delish!

Curried Pearl Barley Porridge

🍛How To Cook Barley Porridge

Step 1 - In a non-stick pot, heat olive oil over high heat. Add onion and sweat until translucent. 

If you prefer to cook without oil, use a couple of tablespoons of vegetable stock to sweat the onions.

sweating onion in a black pan
adding barley, red lentils, curry powder and stock to the onions in a black frypan

Step 2 - Add red lentils, pearl barley, vegetable stock and curry powder. Stir contents, cover and bring to a boil. 

Turn heat to low-med and allow to simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes.

Step 3 - Stir through frozen peas and cook for another 5 minutes or until peas are completely soft. Serve warm.

If desired stir through a little amount of water before serving to make the consistency runnier.

frozen peas added to yellow barley porridge in a pan
hand stirring frozen peas into the yellow porridge

⭐ Pro Tips 

Whilst simmering, stir the porridge every five - 10 minutes or so, bringing up the bottom to the top. This will help this barley curry not stick to the bottom of the pot.

This meal will double in size when cooked, so this recipe will feed around 6 people with some left-overs

The contents of this curry porridge will naturally soften during cooking and fall apart, no blending is needed.

Use a heavy-based non-stick pot if possible (especially if not using oil)

This vegan barley porridge can store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days

🍛Variations

Omit peas altogether and or add diced carrot instead of peas

Or you can use frozen vegetable trio - peas, carrot and corn

For added greens, stir through some chopped spinach or kale leaves.

❓FAQ

Barley vs Pearl barley?

Barley is a whole grain, generally hulled to remove the indigestible outer husk, whilst pearl barley is processed by polishing (pearling) the outer bran layer. Pearl barley is more commonly found in supermarkets.

Does pearl barley need to be soaked?

No, it doesn't need to be pre-soaked before cooking and will cook easily. The reason is as it has been pearled removing the outer layer. Whole grain barley, is the variety that requires soaking.

Where can I buy pearl barley?

Pearl barley can be found at any supermarket or local grocer. Otherwise, it can be purchased online via Amazon (affiliate link).

a glass bowl of raw pearl barley

🥣Serving Suggestions

Pair this vegan barley recipe with steamed vegetables, fresh simple salad such as a rocca salad or Malfouf Salad (my favorite with this meal) and some pickled vegetables. 

🍲Related Recipes

If you are a curry lover, try my easy curried mung beans or this vegan chickpea curry by Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

Looking for more vegan barley recipes try my creamy Bulgur Pilav made with fresh tomato.

Another delicious savory porridge you must try is my Lebanese lentil porridge or for a sweet breakfast try my 5 minute quinoa flakes porridge.

For something a little different, check out my Lebanese vegan green broad beans.

My yellow split pea dahl reminds me of this barley porridge.

Or try a Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad 

  • grey bowl with quinoa porridge topped with fresh fruit
    Easy Quinoa Flakes Porridge (Gluten-Free)
  • Lebanese Lentil Porridge
    Lentil Porridge (Mujadara Makhbousa)
  • a white plate with cooked brown lentils and wheat
    Mujadara Hamra (Lentils & Bulgur)
  • a plate of yellow dal with cilantro and red chili on top
    Yellow Split Pea Dal
two gray bowls of yellow porridge with a side of cabbage salad

Did you enjoy making this vegan barley porridge I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo of your meal? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group. If you’re into fast cooking vids, join me on Tiktok.

Vegan Barley Porridge

Curried Barley Porridge (Easy and Vegan)

A cozy and savory bowl of creamy curried barley porridge with red lentils and peas, resulting in a flavorsome and nourishing meal.
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: main
Cuisine: Australian
Diet: Low Fat, Vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Pearl barley
  • 2 cups Red lentils
  • 1 cup Frozen peas
  • 1 medium Brown Onion diced
  • 8 cups Vegetable stock
  • 1½ tablespoon Curry powder
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Instructions

  • In a non-stick pot, add 2 tablespoons of veggie stock. Add onion and sweat until translucent.
    1 medium Brown Onion
  • Add red lentils, pearl barley, vegetable stock and curry powder. Stir contents, cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low-med and allow to simmer for about 40 minutes.
    1 cup Pearl barley, 2 cups Red lentils, 1½ tablespoon Curry powder, 8 cups Vegetable stock
  • Stir through frozen peas and cook for another 5 minutes or until pearl barley and peas are completely soft. Serve warm. If desired stir through a small amount of water to make this porridge a little runnier.
    1 cup Frozen peas

Video

Notes

Optional - use 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to sweat onion
Stir the porridge every five - 10 minutes
Once cooked this meal will double in size when cooked.
Optional - Keep a spare cup of water, to add at the end if too thick.
No blending is needed
You may also like these recipes which are similar - creamy Bulgur Pilav, Lebanese lentil porridge or yellow split pea dahl
This recipe feeds about 6 people and maybe some leftovers.
 

Equipment

pot

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1263mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 26g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 899IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 6mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Alexandra

    August 03, 2022 at 10:08 am

    5 stars
    This is so comforting, and exactly what I have needed for these cooler evenings. The curry flavour is just superb, and this is lovely and easy to prepare.

    Reply
  2. Nancy

    July 29, 2022 at 4:28 am

    5 stars
    Nice warming and soothing barley porridge.

    Reply
  3. Rupali

    July 28, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    5 stars
    Such a wholesome recipe. This is my new comfort foods!

    Reply
  4. Dana

    July 18, 2022 at 9:36 am

    Do you need to soak the red lentils first as per the package or will boiling be enough?

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      July 18, 2022 at 9:37 am

      no soaking is needed 🙂

      Reply
  5. Lina

    June 20, 2022 at 2:37 am

    5 stars
    This is so easy and delicious! I am so excited about how easy this is to make!

    Reply
  6. Megs

    May 19, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious! I never thought to use barley in porridge.

    Reply
  7. jacquie

    April 13, 2022 at 5:05 am

    Hi - this looks like a great recipe and i can't wait to try it. I know you said that you could swap the peas for carrots but i'm wondering if i can't just increase the amount of vegetables and use both. Would that work?>

    thanks

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      April 13, 2022 at 8:19 am

      Hi Jacquie, you can increase the vegetables. You may need to adjust the liquid to accommodate. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Eddie

    January 24, 2021 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    For a simple meal, this was tasty. I made it with peas and had two servings. Recommended

    Reply
    • plantbasedfolk

      January 24, 2021 at 11:46 am

      Thank you kindly! 🙂

      Reply

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Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

Let's cook together!

More about me →

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