Orzotto

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I had an unusual dish in an Italian restaurant while on hols, Orzotto it's basically a risotto dish but made with barley instead of rice, the one I had was made with caramelised onions and grilled prawns, but you could add anything in I suppose. It might be an idea for anyone preparing a beer themed night. It tasted good also btw.

[DEMPSEY]

Aah so we should expect your cooking of this and a run down of it with pic's on the food board here soon.

[cruiscinlan]

Could you use pearl barley in it?  Or was it another variant? Pearl barley in stews is the only use I know of it in modern Irish cooking.  Historically barley or oat stirabout was what people ate everyday before the advent of the potato, so there must a whole food culture around those grains that's now vanished.

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Yes you can use pearl barley
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/orzotto.html

[Ohnidog]

I make it fairly often. I usually use pearl barley but made one with pearled spelt yesterday and it turned out really well. The spelt seemed nuttier and I added a little hazelnut oil to complement that aspect.
Like you said Sorcerers Apprentice, you can make it with anything and it makes a great no fuss dinner.
The best way I find to make it is to cook the grains in stock, saute off some veg/meat separately and then combine the the two. It works amazingly well with beetroot, fried in a little bacon fat, then finished with thyme, parsley and a little apple balsamic.