What Is Barley?

Barley is a whole grain with a chewy texture and nutty flavor. It’s a seed of the grass family grass family Poaceae and is the fourth largest grain crop in the world, after wheat, rice and corn. It’s one of the oldest cereal grains and was grown in Egypt over 10,00 years ago!

Is barley gluten free? Barley does contain gluten, so it’s not gluten-free. It’s not a type of wheat, a common misconception: they’re both different types of grass.

Pearl vs. Hulled Barley

There are two types of barley you can find at the store: hulled and pearl. The difference is similar to white rice vs brown rice: like brown rice, hulled has less of the grain removed during processing. We tend towards using pearl because it cooks faster, but some people prefer the nutritional profile of hulled. Here’s a breakdown:

How to Cook Barley: My Method

There are a few ways to cook barley: jump to the recipe below for my master method! Here are a few tips on the basic method before you start:

• Use 3 parts water to 1 part barley. You can also cook it using the “pasta method” without measuring the water. Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a boil, then add the grains and cook until tender.
• Simmer 25 to 30 minutes for pearl , or 45 to 1 hour for hulled barley. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover the pot. You can add more water if the pan becomes dry when cooking the hulled variety.
• Drain and serve. Once tender, drain any excess water. Then you’re ready to serve! Add salt and butter or olive oil if you’re serving as a side dish, or you can allow it to cool if using in salads.

Ways to Use Barley

Once you’ve got a pot of cooked barley, you can use it in so many ways:

• Grain salads. Toss it with veggies and a lemony dressing in my barley salad with lemon: it’s great as a side dish or a make-ahead lunch.
• Power and grain bowls. Build it into power bowls or a grain bowl with a drizzle of tahini sauce.
• Soups and stews. You can throw cooked barley into soups and stews, or you can throw it raw right into my mushroom barley soup or creamy vegan mushroom soup.
• A rice alternative. It’s great in place of rice in stuffed peppers or fried rice.

What Is Pastis?

This classic French drink works with Pernod or Pastis, two anise-flavored liqueurs that are similar to absinthe. In fact, Pastis was invented as an alternative to absinthe after it was banned in France in 1915. It became very popular in the 1930’s and is popular to this day.

Will I Like The Pastis?

Do you love the flavor of black licorice? If so, you’ll adore a Pastis! But if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like black jelly beans, keep in mind that it’s an acquired taste. It certainly feels very sophisticated and French, perfect for cooling off on the patio or to sip with a good book.

More Anise Flavored Drinks

There are lots of classic cocktails with absinthe that have a similar flavor to the Pastis! Here are a few of the top absinthe drinks you’ll love:

• Combine anise with bubbles in Death in the Afternoon
• Try a tangy and balanced Corpse Reviver No. 2
• Opt for a boozy Sazerac or La Louisiane 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s all you need for this drink:

• Cappelletti Aperitivo: A 750 ml bottle is about $17 to $20, which makes it one of the better values in the aperitivo aisle.
• Prosecco: Any dry sparkling wine works: Prosecco is traditional, but champagne, cava or another brut bubbly works too.
• Soda water: A splash of club soda or soda water is what makes the drink so refreshing: and lower alcohol than most cocktails.
• Orange slice and ice: A wide orange slice is the classic garnish. I also love this drink with big, slow-melting cubes: here’s how to make clear ice.

When To Serve a Royal Flush Drink

The Royal Flush drink is a fruity, intriguing whiskey drink that’s great for a game night or anytime! Serve it as a:

• Dinner party drink
• Cocktail night drink
• Guys night or girls night drink
• Late night drink

What’s a Black Russian?

The Black Russian is a vodka cocktail with coffee liqueur. This classic cocktail was invented back in 1949, when it was created in a hotel bar in Brussels for the American ambassador to Luxembourg (here’s more about that).

So, the drink is not Russian in origin! It was named for the vodka and the black color of the coffee liqueur.

How to Make a Black Russian

Once you’ve got your ingredients, this two ingredient cocktail takes only a few minutes to make. There’s one difference from the White Russian: you don’t mix the ingredients together in the glass. Instead, stir them in a mixing glass: it’s a classic stirred cocktail like the Martini. Here’s what to do:

• Stir together the vodka and Kahlua in a cocktail mixing glass. Shaking dilutes the drink with ice. Adding to the glass doesn’t get it cold enough. So you have to stir it in a separate container like a cocktail mixing glass.
• Don’t have a mixing glass? Use any glass or container you like to mix the drink, then strain it into the serving glass. Or, grab yourself a cocktail mixing glass. (Plus, it just looks cool.)

More Variations to Try

There are a few other riffs on the Black Russian theme that are worth mentioning! If you’re a fan of this drink, make sure to try:

• Mind Eraser: Essentially a layered version of the Black Russian, topped with soda water! It’s bubbly and refreshing.
• Colorado Bulldog: Try the White Russian in a highball glass with a splash of cola, and it tastes like a root beer float.

When to Serve a Black Russian

The Black Russian is a sweet cocktail, almost a dessert! It works before dinner, after dinner, or anytime in between. Serve it as a:

• After-dinner drink or nightcap
• Happy hour or cocktail hour pour
• Afternoon pick-me-up
• Dinner party offering (it scales easily)
• Cozy, low-effort drink for two

More Easy Two-Ingredient Cocktails

The Black Russian is a minimalist drink you can throw together without a recipe. A few more I keep on hand:

• Best Gin and Tonic The classic! All you need is gin and tonic water.
• Classic Martini The most famous two ingredient cocktail: just gin and vermouth.
• Vodka Cranberry This highball is refreshing and tangy, with cranberry juice and vodka.
• French Connection Equal parts Cognac and amaretto.
• Whiskey Highball A bubbly way to drink your whiskey: mix it with soda water or ginger ale.
• Chambord and Champagne This raspberry liqueur is perfect with bubbles.