How to make barley water
The barley It is an extremely nutritious cereal, especially recommended within a varied, balanced and healthy diet. It is the fifth most cultivated cereal in the world, although it is true that in many kitchens it is usually the 'most forgotten' cereal, since it is more usual to prepare dishes and recipes with rice, with millet with quinoa.
From a nutritional point of view, barley is a cereal that provides very interesting amounts of vitamins of group B and vitamin K. It is also very rich in minerals, highlighting the presence of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, as well as trace elements such as iron, zinc , selenium, iodine, chromium, manganese and sulfur. Did you know that it is also the cereal with the highest soluble fiber content ?.
Therefore, it is a cereal whose consumption is always recommended. In regard to its most important benefits and properties, we find that it helps regulate cholesterol, prevents fatty liver (ie, the accumulation of fat in the liver), helps in case of anxiety and stress due to its effects relaxing, and is ideal for deficiency states and for the smallest, in growth processes.
Although the most usual is to prepare it in dishes and recipes, from this cereal you can obtain the barley water. It is a natural drink that helps us to relax, useful for the detoxification of the kidneys and spleen, good against cardiovascular diseases, helps to reduce fever, removes thirst, acts as a remineralizer and is also ideal in case of pregnancy and lactation.
Ingredients to make barley water
- 100 gr. of barley grains
- 1 l. of water
- The peel of a lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- To sweeten: honey, brown sugar or whole cane sugar
Steps to make barley water
- Put the barley grains in a colander, and wash them well under the tap of the cold water.
- Once washed, put in a saucepan a liter of water, add the grains of barley and bring to a boil.
- When it begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer until the barley grains are tender.
- When they are tender, add the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick.
- Leave cooking 5 more minutes.
- Strain the barley water and let it cool.
- Sweeten to taste.
- Ready!
Remember that it is advisable to drink this cold barley drink. You can accompany with a slice of lemon and ice.
On the other hand, if you want to learn how to make more natural drinks like barley water, we recommend you read our article about rice water.
What is barley water and what are its benefits?
The barley water is the liquid resulting from the cooking of barley, which can be cooked alone or we can add to the cooking water flavorings such as lemon zest or cinnamon.
It is an ideal drink to quench thirst, to lower fever, for situations of physical and mental fatigue, helps regulate cholesterol, prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver and is good for detoxifying the kidneys and spleen.
Images | Ryosuke Hosoi / Shawn Hargreaves
