Make this refreshing lemon barley water with just 4 simple ingredients! This healthy and cooling drink is nutty in flavor and can be enjoyed either chilled or hot.
In Malaysia, lemon barley water is a well-loved beverage! It's an ideal choice for quenching thirst in our hot and humid weather. While it can be served warm, I prefer it chilled with plenty of ice cubes.
💚Why you will love this recipe
- The perfect hot weather drink that is cooling and refreshing
- Healthy, low in calories, and naturally vegan
- An easy one-pot recipe that only requires 4 ingredients
- Customizable to suit your taste
🤔What is barley water
Barley water is a popular drink in different parts of the world, particularly in Southeast and East Asia. To make it, barley grains are boiled in water. The cooked barley is then removed, and the remaining liquid is sweetened with sugar, honey, fruit juices, spices, or lemon juice.
On its own, barley water is slightly nutty and mild in flavor. Hence, a sweetener is usually added before serving. It can be enjoyed both warm or cold.
Barley water is known for its health benefits. According to Healthline, barley water might help lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, and promote weight loss.
🍋What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Barley - Both pearled barley and hulled barley can be used. As hulled barley is tougher and harder to cook, I recommend soaking them overnight before using and increasing the cooking time if needed.
- Lemon juice - Freshly squeezed ones work best, but you could also use bottled lemon juice! It can be substituted with lime juice.
- Sweetener - An optional ingredient; you can choose to leave yours unsweetened. I use turbinado sugar, but any sweetener like maple syrup, brown sugar, and molasses will work.
🔪How to make
You can make lemon barley water on the stove or in an Instant Pot.
On the stove - place barley and water in a soup pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, partly covered, until the water turns cloudy, about 30-40 minutes.
Instant pot - Cook water and barley at high pressure for 20 minutes. Once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure.
Serving barley water - Strain barley water to remove cooked barley. Stir in sweetener of choice and lemon juice, and it is ready to be served!
✔Helpful tips
- Serving it cold - Lemon barley water can be served cold. Refrigerate it for a couple of hours, and serve it with ice.
- A more concentrated drink - If you prefer your drink to be more concentrated, feel free to reduce the water used to 4 cups.
- Storing leftovers - Leftover barley water can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Serve it cold, or heat it in the microwave or on the stove if you prefer your drink warm.
✨Variations and add-ins
Here are some fun add-in ideas to jazz up your lemon barley water!
Pandan leaves - Also known as screwpine leaves. They are common in Southeast Asian cooking and impart a pleasant fragrance. Tie 2 leaves into knots, and simmer them with the barley. You will need to remove the leaves before serving, as they are inedible.
Grated ginger - Gives barley water a nice warmth. Add up to 1 tablespoon.
Spices - Add some ground cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves if you love spices!
Fruit juices - I love adding orange juice, but you could do other juices like blackcurrant, apple, or even mango. Start with a 1:1 ratio, adjusting it from there.
Sugar-free - You can enjoy it unsweetened. Alternatively, use sugar substitutes like Splenda and Equal.
🥗Using leftover barley
Don't throw away or compost your cooked barley. Instead, try incorporating it into your cooking! Here are some of my favorite ways to use cooked barley:
- Salad - Add barley to your favorite salad to bulk up the meal! I especially love adding some to my cucumber tomato corn salad and protein pasta salad.
- Soups - Cooked barley is great stirring into soups and stews, especially vegetable-based soups.
- As a stuffing - Use it to fill your acorn or butternut squash to make stuffed squash!
- The base for salad and Buddha bowls - Instead of rice, try switching things up and serve your Buddha bowls with barley!
Leftover barley can be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for a month.
❔Commonly asked questions
Barley water is not gluten-free. Barley, wheat, and rye are 3 grains that contain gluten.
Barley water is mild in taste with a slight nutty, and earthy taste without flavorings. Hence, sweeteners and flavorings like fruit juices are often added to flavor this drink.
🍽More vegan Asian recipes
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Barley Water (stovetop/Instant pot)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pearl barley or hulled barley (see notes)*
- 5 cups water
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- sugar to taste (optional)
Instructions
- You can either cook lemon barley water on stove or in an Instant pot.On stove - place barley and water in a soup pot, and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, partly covered, until the water turns cloudy, about 30-40 minutes.Instant pot - Cook water and barley at high pressure for 20 minutes. Once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure.
- You can either strain out the boiled barley or leave it in. Stir in sweetener of choice and lemon juice, and it is ready to be served!
Notes
- Serving it cold - Lemon barley water can be served cold. Refrigerate it for a couple of hours, and serve it with ice.
- A more concentrated drink - If you prefer your drink to be more concentrated, feel free to reduce the water used to 4 cups.
- Storing leftovers - Leftover barley water can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Serve it cold, or heat it in the microwave or on the stove if you prefer your drink warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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