Baked Barley With Shiitake Mushrooms And Caramelized Onions Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

4 1/2 cups chopped onion (about 3 medium)

1 teaspoon sugar

3 cups sliced button mushrooms (about 9 ounces)

3 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 8 ounces)

1 1/2 cups uncooked pearl barley

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

4 cups vegetable broth

Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Preparation

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sugar; cover and cook 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently. Add barley; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in soy sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme. Preheat oven to 350°. Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour broth over barley mixture; cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until barley is tender. Let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.