It's basically a big pile of mushrooms and onions, slow cooked to perfection. You're supposed to use a mix of button mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms, but I only had button mushrooms, sadly.
A good excuse to use my favorite Dansk dutch oven
Add broth and barley and bake for about an hour and what you get is almost a risotto, but without all the stirring.
It's not bad, but it also won't blow your mind. It's warm, and comforting, and surprisingly good for you, although just a little lacking in flavor. However, I ate the leftovers for lunch and it re-heats nicely - I actually think I liked it better the next day. I don't think it will make the permanent rotation, but it could be a nice little side dish for Thanksgiving.
Well, no matter the limited range of taste, the way you photographed it makes it look so warm and inviting!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you finally had a chance to cook/bake this fall! 'Bout time, right?
yumm! i love mushroom anything! i have some creminis in the fridge i might try this recipe on tonight. ;-) xoxo
ReplyDeletestill looks pretty tempting. maybe with the addition a bunch of fresh herbs and the shiitakes it would be more impressive? i'm going to try it. I love whole grain anything.
ReplyDeleteFreaking yum. I love mild foods. I'm going to try this.
ReplyDeletethis looks amazing and i agree, risotto's usually better the next day. i just can't wait for the weather to officially cool so i can enjoy more dishes like these!
ReplyDeleteYummy! Your photographs make the dish look so comforting...my husband loves mushrooms (more than me I think sometimes), and this is the perfect cold weather dish.
ReplyDeleteMmm...I love mushroom barley soup, and this looks like a good rib sticking variation.
ReplyDeleteWhat changes do you think would make it better? I might try roasting the onions instead of caramelizing to create a deeper flavour, and then maybe stirring in some fresh chopped parsley towards the end of cooking to inject a bright, acidic note.
But I agree with the others--those photos make it look good enough to eat right now!
You guys are smart! Citysage, I think you're right - it needs something bright and acidic, but I couldn't think of anything to toss in that wouldn't be weird. Parsley might be perfect!
ReplyDeleteMmmm.... Caramelize my life! I love anything caramelized a perfect meal to eat alone or as a side.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a total comfort dish. You say it's a little lacking in flavor...maybe some tamari? That's C-Man's answer to everything! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good. I love barley. I don't know why, but I do.
ReplyDeletebarley, beans and rice make me homesick!
ReplyDeleteyour dish looks so good, have you ever thought of doing a cookbook?
This looks good - although every time I try to caramelise onions it goes badly wrong.
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