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

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😋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
Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
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!
🍛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.
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.
⭐ 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 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.
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.
Pearl barley can be found at any supermarket or local grocer. Otherwise, it can be purchased online via Amazon (affiliate link).
🥣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 try out my vegetable curry puffs. Otherwise check out 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
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.
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Curried Barley Porridge (Easy and Vegan)
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
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
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
Anita
This was such a delicious meal prep lunch! Will definitely make it again!
I did add a bit of soy sauce and miso paste for some extra umami flavour, as well as double the amount of peas, because I just love‘em!
Thank you for the recipe:)
Janelle Hama
So glad you loved it Anita! 🙂
Rachel
I really loved this dish. It was so cheap and easy but so tasty! I will definitely be making this often 🙂
Janelle Hama
I'm glad you loved it! It's a winner for sure, and you can't beat how budget-friendly and simple it is. I'm with you!!
Alexandra
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.
Nancy
Nice warming and soothing barley porridge.
Rupali
Such a wholesome recipe. This is my new comfort foods!
Dana
Do you need to soak the red lentils first as per the package or will boiling be enough?
Janelle Hama
no soaking is needed 🙂
Lina
This is so easy and delicious! I am so excited about how easy this is to make!
Megs
So delicious! I never thought to use barley in porridge.
jacquie
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
Janelle Hama
Hi Jacquie, you can increase the vegetables. You may need to adjust the liquid to accommodate. Enjoy!
Eddie
For a simple meal, this was tasty. I made it with peas and had two servings. Recommended
plantbasedfolk
Thank you kindly! 🙂