What is made from barley: what cereals are obtained from cereals, types and names, application
Barley is one of the oldest cereal plants, which has many valuable characteristics. It can be grown in a variety of conditions - in the steppes and in the mountains, in conditions of high humidity or dryness. Barley is considered the most early crop, because it can be grown even in harsh climates. However, not everyone knows what is made from barley, what cereals are obtained from cereals, as well as their types and names.
Description of cereal
Barley refers to a whole range of cereals. However, common barley is commonly grown for food purposes.Other representatives of this genus are cultivated quite rarely. They mostly grow in the wild. Barley can be an annual, biennial or perennial grass.
Like wheat, this plant is considered one of the first cereals that man began to grow and eat. This happened in the Middle East at least 10,000 years ago. This culture is characterized by a very wide habitat. It is distributed from Crete and northern Africa to Tibet.
According to archaeological finds, barley as a cereal plant was distributed not only in Asian countries, but also in Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Also, this crop was grown in the northern regions. In particular, she met in Finland and Norway.
Taste
Barley itself is not usually eaten. Pearl barley and barley groats are made from this cereal. They have a similar taste, but have some differences. The fact is that barley groats contain less fiber, which affects its taste.
Both products have a relatively neutral taste. They are cooked in water or milk, adding s alt or sugar. Thanks to this, it is possible to get completely different side dishes - a great addition to meat dishes or sweet porridge. Barley and barley porridge are quite delicate products that vaguely resemble oatmeal and millet. Barley is characterized by small nutty notes in taste, and barley porridge is more tender.
Vitamins, trace elements and other chemicals
Barley grains contain many valuable ingredients:
- 16% protein;
- 75% carbs;
- 3-5% vegetable fat;
- 10% fiber.
This cereal includes a lot of vitamins B, A, E, D. At the same time, the calorie content of 100 grams of whole grains is approximately 288 kilocalories. This corresponds to 18% of the daily requirement for adults.Taking into account regional characteristics, soil and conditions, barley may also contain various trace elements. These include zinc, potassium, iron.
What kind of cereal is obtained from barley
It is customary to use whole grains of barley in cooking. To do this, it needs to be peeled, winnowed and boiled. However, it is much more useful to eat cereal that has been turned into cereals. This product is made from refined and crushed grains. At the same time, different types of cereals are made from barley.
Barley
The most famous barley is barley. To get this product from kernels, you need to do the following:
- Carefully peel seeds of glassy or semi-glassy varieties from the husk. They contain the maximum amount of protein.
- Crush the grains so that only the kernels remain. In fact, endosperm is obtained with a minimum number of shells.
- Sand the grains together. Thanks to this, it will be possible to obtain smooth, rounded granules that are distinguished by a white or yellow color.
Barley porridge is considered a traditional Russian dish. Back in the thirties of the last century in the Soviet Union, they launched the industrial production of cheap cereals, which are stored for a long time. That is why barley was often used in military units, schools and other institutions.
Probably related to the fact that today this product is considered of little value. In fact, this is not true. Barley, when cooked properly, tastes great and brings he alth benefits.
In addition to the post-Soviet countries, such cereals are often used in Italian cuisine. Orzotto is prepared from this product, which is an analogue of rice risotto. Also this product is loved by the Swedes, Finns, Danes. They use it to make porridges and soups.
Barley grits
Another common type of barley groats is barley. To prepare it, you need to do the following:
- Clean barley grains from debris.
- Sweep grains.
- Crush barley with a mill.
Because barley is not subjected to grinding and polishing, it has the following characteristics:
- differs in irregular shape;
- has sharp edges;
- completely includes the whole grain - it includes not only the endosperm, but also the shells.
Barley groats are used to make cereals. In more rare cases, puddings and casseroles are made from it. In Scandinavian countries, cereals are used to make soups.
Starch, which is contained in barley groats and boiled to a paste, gives the porridge a lumpy texture and a uniform consistency. As it cools, the product quickly becomes hard and tasteless.
Less known species
Barley groats and pearl barley are considered the most famous products that are made on the basis of barley. However, other cereals are also made from this cereal:
- Flattened barley groats. In its production, grains are passed not through millstones, but through rollers that spin quickly. Thanks to this, cereals are obtained, consisting of flat grains. In appearance, it resembles cereal.
- " Dutch" . This product is the same barley, but it is characterized by smaller sizes. For this, cereals are carefully selected. Unlike ordinary pearl barley, "Dutch" is an elite cereal that is used for haute cuisine.
What else can be made from barley
Barley is used not only for making cereals. Other products are also made from it:
- M alt – comparable to cereals in terms of production. The best varieties of cereals are classified as "m alting barley" when they enter the elevators. In Ireland, USA, England, this product is used for the production of whiskey.
- Coffee is made in powder form from roasted beans. This drink is similar to coffee. It is difficult to say that this product cannot be called a complete replacement for real coffee. It differs markedly in taste. Therefore, barley coffee is usually referred to as surrogates. However, this product is suitable for people who, for he alth reasons, caffeine is contraindicated.
- Raw material for use in medical practice and in cosmetology - barley sprouts are used for its manufacture. These products are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. They can be used to treat and prevent many pathologies.
- Flour - the dough from this product does not rise. Therefore, at best, only flat and fairly hard cakes can be obtained from barley flour. Therefore, it is mixed with other types of flour - for example, with rye or wheat. Finns use barley flour to make traditional rieska bread.
- Raw material for making kvass - due to the significant amount of carbohydrates in the composition, barley grains ferment well.
Large quantities of low protein barley are used to feed livestock. It is used in the following forms:
- whole - while the grains are boiled or poured with boiling water;
- raw materials for the manufacture of compound feed - in this case, it is ground, combined with the flour of other plants, saturated with premixes and turned into granules.
Who shouldn't eat barley
Barley in any form is good for the body. However, sometimes it can also be harmful. The main contraindications to the use of this cereal include acute stages of diseases of the digestive organs.
Despite the fact that barley-based meals help to get rid of excess weight, an excessive amount of such products in the diet causes the opposite effect. Therefore, this cereal should be consumed no more than 1-2 times a week.
Barley is a tasty and he althy product that is used to make a variety of cereals. They differ in appearance, composition, properties and effect on the body. There is also a certain difference in taste.
