Rachel Roddy’s Recipe For Roast Summer Vegetable, Herb And Pearl Barley Salad | A Kitchen In Rome

It is nan clip of twelvemonth erstwhile nan consequence syrups get moved to a much accessible support astatine our section supermarket. They person a scope of 8 to 10 flavours, but nan 2 that predominate are mint and orzata, sparkling greenish and cloudy achromatic syrups respectively, that request diluting pinch fizzy h2o and possibly topping up pinch ice. I person mentioned orzata present before, really celebrated it is successful Italy and really nan sanction intends a portion made from orzo (barley), and besides really astatine immoderate constituent nan barley was replaced by almonds; then, astatine different point, nan almonds were replaced by deacidified benzoin, which is simply a balsamic resin obtained from trees of nan genus Styrax from south-east Asia. Deacidified benzoin is really delicious and I go limited connected orzata astatine this clip of year, and nan sound of nan crystal clanking against nan broadside of nan solid arsenic I locomotion my cold, cloudy portion backmost to my basking table is nan sound of summer.

However, I person ever wondered what orzata made pinch orzo is like. And yet an opportunity presented itself when, having lifted cooked barley retired of nan cookware pinch a slotted spoon, I was near pinch a cookware of cloudy h2o astatine nan backmost of nan stove. I would person thrown it away, if I hadn’t had a solid of orzata connected nan go. Straight from nan pan, nan barley h2o tasted for illustration beverage diluted pinch water, bladed porridge and a mouthful of soapy bath water. Undeterred, I consulted Mrs Beeton, who has it successful her cooking for invalids section and suggests adding conscionable citrus zest. Then I looked astatine the ancient Roman guideline Apicius, who suggests boiling it pinch prosciutto and adding pepper. I recovered my reply connected an Italian website called Agrodolce and drained nan water, strained it, sweetened it pinch caster sugar, added a portion of citrus zest, then, for an artistic transformation, poured nan whole, cloudy batch into an Ikea solid vessel pinch a stopper. A fewer hours later, I mixed 50% barley h2o pinch 50% fizzy h2o and added crystal and, I person to say, it was fantastic. Yes, ever truthful somewhat soapy still and reminiscent of porridge, but supra each for illustration barley, barley sweetener and citrus drops, soft, acold and clinking.

The point astir making Roddy orzata is that, arsenic a result, you will person 400g cooked barley to woody pinch – you tin usage pearl (hulled) aliases pot. My proposal is to operation it pinch roast vegetables: reddish pepper, tomatoes, bulb and aubergine, a fewer cooked greenish beans and tons of herbs.

While this crockery is much than important conscionable arsenic it is, it tin beryllium bolstered by a tin of chickpeas, achromatic beans aliases tuna, a fewer snipped anchovies and a fistful of olives. It is besides beautiful pinch crumbled food (feta aliases salted ricotta), grilled halloumi aliases chopped hard-boiled eggs. It is besides a diligent crockery that will beryllium astir astatine room somesthesia until you are fresh to serve. Just adhd a small much oliva oil, a spoon other of vinegar and flip again earlier you serve, pinch an optional solid of orzata connected nan side.

Roast summertime vegetable, herb and pearl barley salad

Serves 4

2 reddish onions, peeled and sliced into chunky moons
1 ample reddish pepper, stalk, pith and seeds removed, soma trim into short, chunky strips
1 aubergine, trim into 2 cm cubes
300g ripe tomatoes, astir chopped, aliases halved cherry tomatoes
Olive oil
Salt
250g pearl barley
200g cooked greenish beans, chopped into small bits (optional)
1 large fistful caller mint, basil, parsley, oregano, dill
1 tsp red-wine vinegar
1 tsp chromatic vinegar, aliases different saccharine vinegar (optional)

Heat nan oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. Put nan onion, pepper, aubergine and tomatoes connected a baking tray, spoon complete 4 tablespoons of oliva oil, sprinkle pinch brackish and flip good truthful each nan vegetables glisten. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, aliases until nan vegetables are very soft and aureate astatine nan edges; if they are besides a spot mushy, that is fine, too.

Meanwhile, boil nan pearl barley successful plentifulness of salted h2o for 15-20 minutes, aliases until al dente, past drain and dispersed connected a sheet to cool slightly.

Mince nan herbs and put them successful a ample vessel pinch nan citrus zest, 3 tablespoons of oliva oil, a spoon of red-wine vinegar and, if you wish, a spoon of chromatic vinegar aliases different saccharine vinegar. Add nan pearl barley, roast veg and greenish beans, if using, and flip well.