This hearty Mushroom Barley Pilaf is made with tender barley and a savory mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms. And it's 100% vegetarian and vegan friendly too!
I love making rice pilafs, but sometimes, I like experimenting with different types of grains too.
I have found that pearled barley is a great alternative to rice. It's chewier, more toothsome and the grains absorb all the wonderful flavors of the broth that it's cooked in.
Plus, pearl barley is incredibly hearty, so a bowl of this pilaf will definitely fill you up!
And did I mention yet that this is a one pot recipe? You know those are my favorites. After all, I wrote an entire cookbook full of one pot vegan recipes!
Helpful Cooking Tips
For this mushroom barley pilaf, I'm using a mixture of cremini and shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms have a more intense mushroom flavor, so they add another layer of rich and savory flavor to the dish. You can swap them for your own favorite mushroom varieties too.
Oh, and if you love mushrooms, go check out these incredible mushroom recipes too!
You will want to dry sauté the mushrooms, essentially cooking the mushrooms without any oil. Mushrooms naturally release juices as they cook, so you can skip the oil for that step!
A great way to repurpose your leftovers is to add the barley pilaf to your vegetable soups! You can even make your own vegetable broth and simply mix this in for a quick and easy soup.
One important thing to note is that barley is not gluten-free. If you want to make a gluten-free version of this dish, use traditional rice instead of barley and reduce the amount of broth to 3 cups total.
And if you love simple recipes like this one, go grab a copy of my free 5-day meatless meal plan!
More Recipes You Might Like
If you love this mushroom barley pilaf, be sure to check out these other tasty ideas:
- Basmati and Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
- Wild Rice Pilaf with Brussel Sprouts and Sage
- Leek and Wild Mushroom Stew
While you're here, be sure to grab our FREE 5-Day Meatless Meal Plan. It's packed with tasty recipes to make vegetarian cooking easy and delicious!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups pearl barley
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 ½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh thyme, roughly chopped
- Zest from 1 lemon
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Dry sauté the mushrooms by adding them to a large sauté pan and cooking them over medium-high heat. Cook the mushrooms for about 4 to 5 minutes, until they start releasing their liquids, stirring frequently. Transfer the mushrooms and juices to a bowl. Wipe down the pan.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and salt, and cook for about 2 minutes, until the onion begins to soften. Add the barley and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir everything for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the mushrooms and their juices into the pan, then stir in the vegetable broth and thyme. Raise heat and bring the broth to boil. Reduce the heat a little so that the broth is simmering. Cover the pot, and let the barley cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the broth has been fully absorbed and the barley is tender. Remove from heat and let the barley sit for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the lemon zest and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Izzy | Pinch of delight says
This looks so delicious!
- Izzy
Maja Harder says
This sounds really tasty - love shiitake mushrooms. And that this is a healthy choice just makes it better.
Annie Bisgaard Ravneberg Hansen says
I have made this 3 times since New Years and we love it! Keeps well on fridge easy to heat up. Shredded a little Asiago on top! Filling on its own as a meal. Warm and rich tasting comfort food.
Michele says
Hi Lisa - The recipe is excellent and so delicious! I had regular mushrooms, so used those, and it turned out great. This is definitely a keeper that I will make again! I really enjoy your blog 🙂 Thanks!