Risotto is a famous Italian speciality that is popular around the world. It is essentially a rice dish that has a delicious creamy texture.
Popularly, it is cooked in meat or seafood broth, but it also has vegetarian varieties. In fact, it has a lot of varieties and preparation styles.

Indian Style Risotto
Rice has been a staple in Italy for centuries. It is one of the major crops. Risotto comes from the northern parts of Italy and has an interesting legend surrounding it. While nobody knows, who invented the risotto, a popular story circles back to a wedding. A local rice dish was part of the wedding feast in Flanders. A young apprentice of the glassblower was using saffron as a pigment in his work. He added the saffron to the rice and ended up creating an early version of the risotto.
Risotto has a lot of local variations in its recipes. Butter, red and white wine, parmesan cheese are common ingredients. It is also often made with beef or bone marrow. Depending on the ingredients, the texture, taste and thickness of the broth changes. Some styles of risotto are almost like soup! This may even explain why risotto is often served as the first course instead of the main.

Curried Pearl Barley Risotto
I have however used Pearl Barley to make my risotto then the Mad Scientist took over and I put in a bit of this and need to finish this and that resulted in this Fusion Dish.
Pearl barley has a grainy feeling and once you get used to the taste you will love it. I have used Pearl Barley in my attempt to include healthy grains in our diet. This is a great replacement for rice, a grain my Husband want to avoid needless to say after the initial hesitation he did take a second helping. That is a big YES from him. He will not praise me at home but when we go out he tells his friends that I" cook well" and discusses some of my foods with them.
Here are some more recipes with Pearl Barley you can try out
-
Lemon Barley Water
-
Barley Bhelpuri Chaat
This Monday for FoodieMondayBloghop Kalyani out host has challenged us in #186 DesiTwist take a foreign recipe and give it an Indian Twist she says. Now the reverse is easier but what is life without a challenge.
Kalyani a great friend is our Mom Chef blogs at Sizzling Tastebuds and if you want some healthy, gluten-free and vegan stuff with whole grains yet keep food interesting for your family this is the place you need to head to.
I had actually told Kalyani that due to some problems I will not be able to participate but then I could not get the “kida” out of my head. This is my take on the theme. I am updating only one picture currently will update the rest later.
This recipe is adapted from One Green Planet
Risotto mein Twist

Risotto mein Twist
Ingredients
- 1 cups pearl barley cooked
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 cups stock /water
- 6-7 garlic cloves minced
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 cups veggies of your choice I used carrots spring onions and mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon pulao masala
- 1 cup milk optional
Instructions
- In a thick bottomed pan ( I used my pressure cooker ) heat the oil.
- Add the garlic and stir fry till golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- Fry the mushrooms drain and set aside.
- In the same oil add the onions fry till soft on medium flame. Take care it does not burn.
- Add the barley and stir fry till well done. Add 2 -3 tablespoon water and mix well.
- Add 2 ladles of the stock/water/milk and stir till the liquid is absorbed.
- Add more water or stock till the barley is cooked and reaches the consistency you like.
- Once the right consistency is reached add the vegetables, pulao masala, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Add the mushrooms, get off the gas and mix well.
- Serve immediately. You can serve with some salad but we had it with Daal.

Sticky Pulao or Risotto with Pearl Barley
The Girl Next Door says
I can't tell you just how much I love this recipe! I have always wanted to try making risotto at home, and this is just the perfect recipe for me. It's so awesome that you have used pearl barley here, instead of the regular rice.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Girl. I love your delicious comment you see I was hesitant about its acceptance.
Kalyani says
Archana - So glad you could join us ! The original fusion queen is you, and I so adore all your twists in the dishes - theme or no theme ! This one with barley has my attention ...
ArchanaPotdar says
Blushing here with your praise. Tag me Kalyani when you make it.
Shobha Keshwani says
Nice and healthy risotto..Barley takes a long time to cook. I make porridge with it but never tried risotto.
ArchanaPotdar says
Yes, Shobha. Thanks to you I realised that I have not said I used cooked barley. I have updated the recipe now.
Mayuri Patel says
I'm a big fan of risotto though have not made it at home as yet. Using pearl barley for risotto and then adding Indian masala, a twist upon a twist. Great recipe. Now contemplating whether to make the risotto with the little pearl barley I have or to make this risotto.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mayuri. You can try some time later when you go back home.
Swati says
I am always apprehensive about making Risotto at home with your recipe I can give Risotto a try.. Loved the use of Indian barley in the Italian dish!!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Swati.
Sujata Roy says
Never tried risotto at home. But your recipe tempted me to try. You have used pearl barley instead of rice and made the dish super healthy. Loved this fusion Archana.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
Poonam Bachhav says
This is a perfect fusion dish di ! Who would have thought of making an Indian version of rissoto with pearl barley . The platter looks very inviting !
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Poonam.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta says
Use of pear barley is quite interesting to be used in risotto Love the idea !!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks,Sasmita.
Preethi’scuisine says
Pearl barley risotto sounds interesting. Absolutely amazing to see you come out with such healthy and yummy recipes. Fabulous!!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Preethi.
Shobha Keshwani says
This risotto looks so delicious and inviting .. a very healthy one too.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Shobha.
Chef Mireille says
wow - risotto with barley now that is such a unique twist but a great healthier alternative
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mir.
Nayna Kanabar says
I love the fusion touch you have given this risotto. It looks delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Nayna.
Priya Srinivasan says
That is a real fusion dish arch! Love the Indian twist to the delish risotto! Looks hearty!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thnaks, Priya,
Mina Joshi says
The risotto looks delicious and I like that youhave given it a bit of twist by using pearl barley
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mina.
Renu says
That looks yum and healthy. With mushrooms in it, it must have added a taste and a bite to the barley.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Renu.