Barley Pilaf with Rose Harissa, Tomatoes & Olives

This barley pilaf is a flavourful one-pan barley recipe. The rose harissa adds a subtle floral flavour and a not-so-subtle spicy hit. And the combination of salty olives, sweet tomatoes, fresh parsley leaves, zesty lemon and nutritious leafy greens will have you coming back for more.

Best of all? It’s super easy to make and very versatile – perfect for meal prep.

Enjoy it as a main dish or a barley side dish. The harissa pilaf is also a delicious base for a vegetarian grain bowl or make-ahead work lunch – top it with sliced avocado and leftover veggies, and you’re good to go!

Why I love this recipe

• It’s an easy one-pot meal: All you need is a large skillet or frying pan with a lid. And with a few simple ingredients, you can have it on the table in 40 minutes.
• It’s flexible: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the ingredients ready to go. I suggest plenty of substitutes and alternatives in the next section. This easy barley recipe is very forgiving.
• It’s versatile: Serve warm as a side dish, a vegetarian main, or a grain bowl base. Top it with leftover veg, avocado, and nuts for a more substantial meal.
• It’s freezer-friendly: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months. Defrost the pilaf, then reheat it in your skillet to warm through.

And did I mention it’s also nutritious and utterly delicious?

What is barley pilaf?

Pilaf is traditionally a rice dish, though some regions use wheat. It involves cooking grains in stock with spices, vegetables or meat. 

The goal is to achieve cooked grains that do not stick.

This barley pilaf is not traditional. But pearled barley is my all-time favourite grain. The flavour is nutty and earthy, and the texture is delightfully toothsome. 

And pearl barley grains do not stick – perfect for foolproof pilaf.

Ingredients and substitutions

This recipe is super flexible. Go ahead and substitute ingredients to suit your pantry and palate:

• Barley: I use pearl barley because it cooks quicker. But you can also use hulled barley – give the whole grain an extra 10 minutes to cook. And add a splash of water if the pan dries out too quickly. Or try it with brown rice for a more traditional rice pilaf. You can even use pre-cooked instant pot barley to save time!
• Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for flavour. But you can also use vegetable oil if you prefer.
• Harissa: The spicy red pepper paste adds loads of flavour. I use rose harissa paste but you can use any harissa. Or if you don’t have any harissa, try the recipe with a harissa substitute. 
• Aliums: Use a large or medium onion and two cloves of garlic. Or switch things up and opt for green onions or shallots.
• Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are perfect in this pilaf. They are small and sweet. But you can also use rosa tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or another small varietal. Or add diced Roma tomatoes for a saucier pilaf.
• Vegetable stock: I use vegetable stock for this recipe. But you can also use chicken stock or chicken broth if you don’t need this barley side dish to be plant-based.
• Olives: I prefer whole olives as they taste better than the pitted ones. But you can use your favourite.
• Lemon: This recipe calls for lemon juice and zest. You can substitute with lime juice and zest. Or add a drizzle of pomegranate molasses to your finished dish for a sweet acidic kick.
• Spinach: You can use kale, Swiss chard or another green leafy veg.

Change the flavour of this barley side dish depending on what you have available.

• Add those leftovers lurking at the back of your fridge.
• Add more quick-cooking vegetables like green beans, snow peas or red bell peppers.
• Sprinkle with toasted nuts and seeds or any herbs that need to be used up.
• Spice things up with a sprinkle of chilli powder – I love Aleppo pepper flakes or try cayenne pepper for extra spice.

Quick pilaf with leftover cooked barley

How to make pearl barley pilaf

I love the combination of salty olives, sweet tomatoes, fresh parsley and lemon zest with the spicy yet floral rose harissa.

But you can add any fresh veggies you’re in the mood for. The steps remain the same. Cook your raw veggies, add your pearl barley and vegetable stock, finish it off with a few cooked veggies and sprinkle with more fresh flavours!

Step 1: Cook the raw ingredients

Start by gathering your ingredients and place a large frying pan (for which you have a lid) on medium-high heat.

Then add the olive oil and chopped onion and cook until the onions are soft and golden, stirring frequently. It should take about 8 minutes. Turn it down to medium heat if your onions are browning too quickly.

Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn.

This is where I stir in the harissa paste and the tomatoes. But you can add mushrooms or any raw veg you have lurking in your fridge. Vegetable barley pilaf is a great way to use up those odds and ends.

Step 2: Add the uncooked pearl barley and stock

Add the uncooked barley to the pan and mix it well with the harissa and onion – or whatever veggie mix you have going on. Toast together for a few minutes before adding the stock and a teaspoon of salt.

Turn the heat up high. Once it reaches a simmer, place the lid on the pan and lower the heat. Leave to simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Remove the lid and turn up the heat again for a brisk simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated and the barley is cooked but still retains a nice toothsome bite – about 10 minutes.

Add a splash of boiling water if the pan dries out too quickly.

Step 3: Stir in cooked veggies and leafy greens

Next, stir in the last of the veggies. This can be pops of flavour (like olives), leafy greens that just need to be wilted, or any ready-cooked leftover veggies (think cooked broccoli, cauliflower or pumpkin).

Remove the pan from the heat and stir through chopped fresh herbs, lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper to taste, reserving some herbs to scatter over the plated dish. Taste and adjust the seasoning if required.

Serve the pilaf straight out of the pan or spoon it into a shallow serving bowl. Scatter with lemon zest and the remaining chopped parsley.

Serving suggestions

This harissa pilaf is a flavourful one-pan dish that’s perfect for an easy weeknight barley dinner or a tasty barley side dish. 

Harissa pilaf as a main dish

The pearl barley pilaf recipe serves four people as a main. Just pair it with a simple green salad or a classic Middle Eastern-style salad, like Arabic chopped salad or Jerusalem salad with tahini.

The perfect side dish

It makes a great side dish for roasted chicken, grilled steak, or fish. Or serve it with a vegetarian centrepiece like roasted cauliflower with tahini. Add a bowl of simply dressed crunchy green salad leaves to complete the meal.

Easy work lunch grain bowls

Make a large batch of harissa barley pilaf, divide it into portions and refrigerate it individually. Then, every morning before work, top the bowl with last night’s leftover veg or another handful of fresh leafy greens, some avocado, mast-o khiar (Persian cucumber and yoghurt sauce) and a scattering of slivered almonds.

Leftover barley soup

You can even turn leftover pilaf into a comforting soup. Add the leftovers to simmering chicken broth (or vegetable broth) and cook until the barley is warm. Bulk up the soup with carrots, celery or lentils for a more substantial meal.

Leftover storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the pilaf in a pan with a little olive oil or pop it into the microwave. 

Or serve the barley as a grain salad at room temperature. But don’t let cooked barley (or other grains) sit at room temperature for more than an hour.

You can also freeze leftover barley pilaf for up to three months. Defrost the barley overnight in the fridge. Then reheat it thoroughly in a stovetop skillet or the microwave.