Curried Barley Porridge (Easy & Vegan)

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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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
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Community

😋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

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!

🍛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

🥣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

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. 

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.

📖 Recipe