Barley porridge is a delicious representative of traditional Russian cuisine. They say that it was she who gave strength to the heroes of the times of Rus', and later to the Russian army (thanks to Peter the Great, who accustomed the army to this mess). This is what was served to guests at the coronation ceremony of Nicholas II. So what makes this product so popular over the centuries?
What is barley porridge
Probably, in childhood, many of us thought about what barley porridge is made from. And they make it from the same thing as pearl barley - from barley. But if pearl barley is whole grains of barley, polished from the top layer, then barley grits is “unpolished”, but crushed barley. It would seem that, apart from appearance, there is no difference between pearl barley and barley. But there are differences: both in taste and in chemical composition. In particular, egg is more delicate in taste and contains more fiber.
Content:
- What is barley porridge
- Nutritional characteristics
- Beneficial features
- Use in folk medicine
- Benefits for weight loss
- Can barley be harmful?
- How to cook properly
Barley is one of the oldest grains growing on our planet. In addition, this is the most unpretentious grain, which, compared to other grains, needs the least time to ripen. Like wheat, this crop existed on Earth 11 thousand years ago. And some data indicate that barley was “cultivated” 17 thousand years ago.
Researchers have found that in those days, barley spread from Tibet to Crete, and archaeologists found the oldest samples of grains in Jordan. The remains of this cereal were found in the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs, as well as in pile dwellings of the Neolithic and Bronze periods. This culture most likely came to Russian territory from the Caucasus or Siberia.
In ancient times, barley grains were used to determine length and weight. By weight, five pure grains are an Arabic carat (0.2232 g), and three in length are an English inch (2.54 cm).
Barley groats, like many others, are usually divided into numbers, taking into account the size of the grains. There are three numbers: first, second and third. But packaging bags of cereal usually contain a mixture of different numbers. But this porridge is not divided into varieties.
The benefits of unpolished barley
Barley porridge is a valuable dietary dish.
Barley groats are beneficial not only for the body, but also for the family budget. For all its positive qualities, it has a very low cost.
The use of barley porridge for baby food is also justified. Unlike its relative, pearl barley, barley is much softer and more delicate, so it is easily absorbed by the picky child’s body.
For adults, the benefits of unpolished barley are as follows:
- It has enveloping and diuretic properties, therefore it has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect on many organs. Used to treat diabetes and obesity.
- Contains a lot of gluten, rich in protein, and therefore is a valuable dietary dish.
- Helps the body fight allergic reactions.
- It has a high calorie content along with healthy sugars and a pleasant taste. Without fear, it is recommended for use by people suffering from obesity and other diseases that cause excess weight.
- Barley protein is absorbed better than wheat and does not cause an increase in blood sugar. Therefore, diabetics can eat barley porridge without the risk of worsening their health.
- Eating barley porridge is justified in cases of depression or stress. It contains many amino acids, including those that affect emotional balance and improve mood.
- Unpolished barley is beneficial for women struggling with skin aging. It contains a lot of lysine, which is involved in the production of collagen, which smoothes wrinkles.
- Cereals are widely used in folk medicine. Its decoction has an analgesic effect and is used to treat arthritis and other joint pain.
- It is also known that porridge made from unpolished barley reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Cardiologists recommend eating this porridge for those who suffer from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
Nutritional characteristics
Since ancient times, barley has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most useful. And I must say, deservedly so. It, like most cereals, contains a huge amount of B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, , potassium, calcium, iodine, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, silicon, chromium and many other useful elements from the periodic table.
In addition, barley grains are an excellent source of protein (almost 10 g per 100 g of raw cereal), which surpasses wheat proteins in its biological value. In addition, at least 5 percent of the total composition of barley porridge is fiber. Well, don’t forget about the healthy fats and carbohydrates contained in the porridge. A serving of ready-made porridge is an excellent source of energy: 100 g of raw product contains more than 300 kcal, but 100 g of porridge prepared without butter and milk is only 75 kcal.
A little history
The fiber contained in barley has a beneficial effect on digestion.
Barley has been a valuable product since ancient times. They began to grow this crop back in the 4th century BC. e., and the first plantings of barley, according to archaeological excavations, are more than 3 thousand years old. The culture was known for its rapid growth and ease of care, so ancestors used barley not only for food. For some peoples, a barley grain served as a measure of length and mass.
Beneficial features
Since ancient times, barley products have been talked about as natural cures for colds and gastrointestinal diseases. They were used when it was necessary to relieve spasms or cure inflammation. And the Persian physician and philosopher of the Middle Ages, Avicenna, was convinced that barley cereals help free the body of waste, toxins and allergies.
Scientists of our era have established through experiments that barley grain contains the antibiotic hordecin, which treats fungi, including candidiasis.
Phosphorus, of which there is a lot in the cell, is useful for maintaining proper metabolism. Despite its high calorie content, when consumed in moderation, barley groats promote weight loss. The product contains substances that accelerate the breakdown of fats, and the cell also prevents the accumulation of new subcutaneous fat deposits. In addition, fiber (a soluble version of dietary fiber) helps cleanse the body of toxins and has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and the heart.
The finished egg has an enveloping effect, making it one of the recommended products for people with gastritis and ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract. Porridge and a decoction of it are useful for inflammation of the intestines or stomach. After surgery, croup will help restore strength.
It is good to use this product to improve blood vessels, improve blood supply and brain function. Barley porridge is recommended to be included in the menu for people suffering from hypertension, kidney disease, urinary tract disease, gall bladder or liver disease. Yachka dishes are good for relieving allergies and diarrhea. They are useful for anemia and visual impairment.
Barley porridge is also a product that is good for the heart and blood vessels. It lowers cholesterol levels, prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and strengthens blood vessels.
This cereal also has a beneficial effect on the hormonal background of the body, more precisely regulates the functioning of the endocrine system, helps the thyroid gland and adrenal glands produce hormones necessary for the human body in adequate quantities. And even if you are in a bad mood and prone to depression, a testicle is just what the doctor ordered, as they say. The special chemical composition of the porridge stimulates the production of hormones responsible for improving mood.
Rich in B vitamins, egg is an excellent product for maintaining the youth of the body, improving the condition of the skin, nails, and hair. The amino acids contained in barley proteins promote the production of collagen in the body, and it is known to be the main enemy of wrinkles, sagging skin, and sagging body. And also, according to some scientists, the cell is necessary to protect the body from malignant degeneration of cells.
Peculiarities
Barley groats are obtained from barley grains by removing their bran, sifting and subsequent crushing. This distinguishes it from another popular barley cereal - pearl barley, which is usually made from whole grains by grinding them. And if barley from time immemorial and to this day is considered a typical soldier’s food (mentions of it can be found in the army documents of Ancient Rome), then barley porridge a few hundred years ago was available only to privileged segments of the population and was considered almost a delicacy.
According to size classes, barley groats are divided into large (it is marked with number 1), medium fraction (No. 2) and small (No. 3). Typically, a larger egg takes much longer to cook than a small one, but at the same time contains slightly more useful substances. On sale you can also find mixtures of cereals of all three sizes - they are usually not marked with a number.
Use in folk medicine
For many centuries, barley and porridges made from it were basic products in Rus'. And of course, in those distant times, people noticed that eating cereal dishes improved their health. Traditional healers have developed many medicinal recipes based on yachka.
A decoction of cereals is popularly known as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. It was used for constipation, arthritis, obesity, breast diseases, hemorrhoids and diabetes. Even today, herbalists advise drinking barley decoction for severe coughs and to prevent urolithiasis. Prepare the remedy from 1 tablespoon of porridge and a glass of water. Boil for a quarter of an hour and then leave for 5 hours.
The cereal, cooked until half cooked, was still hot, wrapped in a piece of cloth and applied to the chest. In this way, our great-grandmothers treated coughs in children and adults. The same compresses were applied to the inflamed joints.
Beef broth soup with celery
Number of servings: 4. Cooking time: 2 hours. Difficulty of preparation: easy. Ingredients: barley – 100 g; water – 2 l; beef (on the bone) – 250 g; carrots – 2 pcs.; bay leaf – 4 pcs.; butter – 3 tbsp. l.; parsley – 1 bunch; onions – 2 heads; celery – 100 g; salt and pepper, herbs and green onions - to taste. Step-by-step cooking instructions:
- Wash and peel the carrots. Cut it into small cubes and fry in butter until half cooked.
- Wash and chop the parsley and add it to the carrots.
- Place a bay leaf there.
- Rinse the meat and put it in a saucepan along with the vegetables, cover it all with a small amount of water. Cook until the beef fibers begin to pull away from the bone.
- Strain the broth, separate the meat from the bone. Add the remaining water, celery, onions, barley and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper 5 minutes before cooking.
- When serving, sprinkle with green onions.
A simple and practical recipe - a great lunch option. The soup can be reheated and consumed the next day, unlike potato or pasta soups.
An affordable, versatile and healthy cereal is a godsend both for people on various diets and for those who simply want to diversify their diet. Despite the fact that barley is a very high-calorie product, nutritionists strongly recommend consuming the cereal as an additional source of plant fiber. You can also feed barley porridge to your pets, it will bring them the same benefits. Try the recipes described above and come up with new dish options. And be healthy!
Benefits for weight loss
As already mentioned, barley porridge is useful for weight loss. It can be consumed as a main dish without making significant changes to your usual diet. Or you can resort to more radical weight loss by excluding from the menu for a week everything except egg, kefir, fruits, vegetables (non-starchy), freshly squeezed juices and tea. You can make dietary soups from vegetables, but do not overuse salt and spices. But the yachka should be prepared according to a special recipe - without oil, salt and other spices. Pour 500 g of barley into 900 ml of boiling water and cook until thick. Then wrap it in a terry towel and leave it warm for 40 minutes. The second option for preparing porridge for a diet is using a thermos. In this case, raw cereals and boiling water are taken in a 1:2 ratio and left overnight.
The weekly diet menu is made up of a list of allowed foods. Here is an example of nutrition for one day: kefir, banana and porridge, to which you can add a little honey, are suitable for breakfast. For lunch, it would be nice to prepare a salad of fresh vegetables seasoned with a little olive oil or lemon juice. In addition, the lunch menu includes a portion of porridge and vegetarian soup. A green apple or orange is suitable as a snack, and for dinner - a egg with low-fat kefir.
This is a very satisfying diet, so it is quite easy to tolerate. Meanwhile, the result is impressive. If you are overweight, you can lose up to 4 kilograms in a week of eating this way.
Barley and cottage cheese balls
Number of servings: 4. Cooking time: 60 minutes. Difficulty of preparation: easy. Ingredients: barley – 1 cup; water – 3.5 cups; cottage cheese – 180 g; egg – 1 pc.; vegetable oil – 3 tbsp. l. Step-by-step cooking instructions:
- Rinse the cereal.
- Pour it into boiled water, add salt and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes (until completely thickened).
- Add cottage cheese, egg and sugar to the prepared barley porridge. Mix the mass well.
- Form into balls and fry them in vegetable oil.
- You can serve with sour cream or berries.
Easy-to-prepare meatballs will be a tasty alternative to the usual cheesecakes or manna pancakes. And they will not lose to them in terms of the number of useful properties!
Can barley be harmful?
Best materials of the month
- Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: how effective are they?
- The most common "office" diseases
- Does vodka kill coronavirus?
- How to stay alive on our roads?
Barley porridge, if consumed in adequate portions, is not capable of causing harm to the body. But as with most products, there are some caveats. And the first of them is allergies. If a person reacts to cereals, it is better to stay away from barley porridge. You shouldn’t test your body’s strength and feed it a meal if it’s already having a hard time due to exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For such cases, it is better to find more gentle and gentle food. And although there are barley diets, eating porridge daily for a long time can lead to weight gain. Large portions of eggs are harmful to expectant mothers. In late pregnancy, some substances contained in porridge can cause premature birth.
