Pearl Barley Chicken Stew  | Daily Mail Online

Pearl Barley Chicken Stew

If you have little ones, just chop the veg so that it’s bitesize and when you serve, cut up or shred the chicken pieces

A brilliant warming, filling, family-friendly meal. I use chicken thighs as they are cheaper and tastier than breasts, but you can use them if you prefer or substitute the chicken for chickpeas. If you have little ones, just chop the veg so that it’s bitesize and when you serve, cut up or shred the chicken pieces.

Makes enough for 2-3 plus the same to freeze

Prep 10 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

2 tbsp olive oil

1 red onion, diced into 1cm cubes

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tbsp ground coriander

2 tsp ground cinnamon

300g chicken thigh fillets, diced into 2cm cubes

1.5 litres water

3 tbsp brown rice miso paste (or 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce)

200g pearl barley

1 aubergine, diced into 1cm cubes

80g mushrooms, sliced

juice of 1 lemon

1 courgette, cut into 5mm-thick half-moon chunks

100g green beans

salt and black pepper

spinach (optional)

parsley (optional)

  •  Put the olive oil, red onion, garlic, coriander and cinnamon into a frying pan and sauté over a medium to high heat for 2 minutes.
  •  Add the chicken then coat with the spices and cook until the edges of the meat turn white in colour.
  •  Add 1 litre of the water, the brown miso (or tamari or soy sauce), pearl barley, aubergine and mushrooms and cook on a high heat for 10 minutes.
  •  Add the remaining water, lemon juice, courgette and green beans.
  •  Turn down the heat to low then put the lid on and cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom or burn.
  •  Once the pearl barley is soft, season and take off the heat. Add a handful of spinach and parsley at the end if you wish.