Barley with Beetroot (Sha'ir wa Silq)
"We used to be happy on Fridays, for there was an old lady who used to pull out the roots of Silq and put it in a cooking pot with some barley." — Sahih al-Bukhari
- Serves: 3
- Calories: 340 kcal
Ingredients
- 200g whole barley grains (hulled barley)
- 2 medium beetroots, peeled and diced
- Salt, to taste
- 4–5 cups water
Method
Step 1 — Rinse the barley grains Place the barley in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Step 2 — Cook the barley and beetroot In a pot, combine the rinsed barley, diced beetroots, salt, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 60–90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the barley grains are tender and the beetroot has softened. Step 3 — Check and adjust water If most of the water is absorbed but the barley is still chewy, add a little more hot water and continue simmering. Step 4 — Serve Taste and adjust salt. Serve war