Drinking the water from the grains we cook is the ultimate way to obtain every last nutrient from our food, wasting nothing. Here's my recipe.
Tom Hunt's barley water
If you want to cut down on waste, stopping buying soft drinks is a great way to do it. Check out this delicious and super simple recipe for some inspiration
by Tom Hunt
Photograph: Tom Hunt, first published in Vegetarian Living magazine
Serves 6
Preparation time 2 hours
Cooking time 30 mins
Ingredients
- 150g barley
- 2 litres water
- 100ml honey
- 2 unwaxed organic lemons, zested and juiced
- Sprig of mint and ice to serve
Method
- Put the barley and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
- Place a lid on top, reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
- Next,strain the liquid through a sieve into a jug. Keep the barley to make a salad or serve it as a carb with your next meal. Add the lemon zest and honey to the hot liquid and set aside to cool.
- When cold, stir in the lemon juice and place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
- Serve with ice and a sprig of mint.
Tip: buy barley in bulk or from a bulk buy store, honey from a local beekeeper or in a jar you'd like to keep and lemons from your market so they aren't in a plastic net.
Tom Hunt is a chef, sustainability campaigner and patron of the charity Plan Zheroes. Find out more about Tom on Instagram at @cheftomhunt or at tomsfeast.com
