pearl-barley

A chef adds pearl-barley to a simmering vegetable soup.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Processed barley grain: "pearl-barley" refers to barley that has been polished to remove its outer husk and bran, resulting in small, round, smooth grains. It is commonly used in soups, stews, and salads.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Add pearl-barley to the vegetable soup for extra texture and nutrition. (Use the polished barley grains in the soup.)
  • She cooked pearl-barley as a side dish with herbs and butter. (Prepared the barley as a grain accompaniment.)

Advanced Usage

• "pearl-barley risotto": a dish where pearl-barley is cooked slowly with broth, similar to traditional risotto made with rice.

  • The pearl-barley risotto was creamy and hearty. (The barley-based dish had a rich, smooth texture.)

• "pearl-barley salad": a cold dish combining cooked pearl-barley with vegetables, dressing, and sometimes protein.

  • A pearl-barley salad with cucumbers and feta cheese is perfect for summer. (A refreshing grain-based salad.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pearl (adj): shaped like a small, round, lustrous ball; used to describe the polished form of grains like barley or tapioca.
  • Pearl onions are small, round, and mild in flavour. (Onions of a similar shape and size.)
• Barley (n): a cereal grain that is the source of pearl-barley.
  • Barley is often grown for animal feed or malt production. (The raw grain before processing.)

Synonyms

• Polished barley: barley that has had its outer layers removed.
• Scotch barley: a coarsely ground form of barley, less processed than pearl-barley.

Related Idioms

• "pearl-barley as a thickener": used in cooking to add body and creaminess to soups without using dairy.
  • The chef used pearl-barley as a thickener for the broth. (To make the liquid more viscous.)