You can always count on leeks and mushrooms – especially in this vegan risotto

Swap rice for pearl barley to create a delicious and filling dinner, says Katie Wright

Wednesday 12 January 2022 08:37 GMT
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Guaranteed to be delicious
Guaranteed to be delicious (Dan Jones/PA)

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Leeks and mushrooms are a robust flavour combination that you can always count on: nothing can go wrong when you’re combining these two,” says Miguel Barclay, author of the One Pound Meals cookbook series.

“It’s guaranteed to be delicious. To make this vegetarian or vegan, omit the parmesan cheese. If you like, you can replace it with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast.”

Leek and mushroom barley risotto

Makes: 1 portion

Ingredients:

½ onion, diced

Handful of pearl barley

½ vegetable stock cube

300ml water

½ leek, sliced

Handful of mushrooms, sliced

1 thyme sprig

Small handful of grated parmesan cheese, plus a few shavings for garnish

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

(Dan Jones/PA)
(Dan Jones/PA)

Method:

1. Pan-fry the onion in a splash of olive oil over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until soft, then add the barley and cook for a further minute.

2. Crumble in the half stock cube and pour over the water. Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes until the barley is cooked but still retains a slight bite, adding more water if needed.

3. Meanwhile, pan-fry the leek and mushrooms in a splash of olive oil over a medium heat for about 12 minutes until soft, adding the thyme halfway through.

4. Stir some grated Parmesan into the barley risotto, then add the leek and mushrooms. Season to taste, and serve with a few shavings of Parmesan to garnish

Recipe from ‘Green One Pound Meals’ by Miguel Barclay (published by Headline Home, £16.99; photography by Dan Jones), available now.

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