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    Home » Vegan Asian Recipes

    Refreshing Lemon Barley Water (Instant pot/stovetop)

    Published: Aug 28, 2023 by Jim Mee Sha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

     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.

    A glass of lemon barley water with barley and lemons in the background.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • 💚Why you will love this recipe 
    • 🤔What is barley water 
    • 🍋What you will need 
    • 📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 
    • 🔪How to make 
    • ✔Helpful tips 
    • ✨Variations and add-ins
    • 🥗Using leftover barley 
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽More vegan Asian recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    💚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 needed like lemon juice, sugar, and barley on a grey background.

    📃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!

    Pouring water into a pot containing uncooked barley.
    Pouring lemon juice into a pot of barley water.

    ✔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. 

    Pouring barley water into a glass with another glass of water in the background.

    🥗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

    Is barley water gluten-free?

    Barley water is not gluten-free. Barley, wheat, and rye are 3 grains that contain gluten.

    What does it taste like?

    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.

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    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    A glass of lemon barley water with uncooked barley and lemons in the background.

    Lemon Barley Water (stovetop/Instant pot)

    Meesha
    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.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Malaysian
    Servings 3 servings
    Calories 80 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¼ cup pearl barley or hulled barley (see notes)*
    • 5 cups water
    • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • sugar to taste (optional)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    *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. 
     
    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.
     
    Nutritional facts calculated is just a rough estimate of barley water without sugar. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 80kcal

    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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