Pearl Barley Risotto with Feta Cheese

Ingredients

For the risotto

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 stick celery, finely sliced
• 1 small onion , finely sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 350ml low-sodium vegetable stock
• 150ml passata
• 1 x 227g can chopped tomatoes
• 100g pearl barley, rinsed
• ½ medium lemon, zest only

For the topping

• 1 tbsp caraway seeds
• 100g feta cheese, cut into small cubes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a thick-bottomed saucepan then add the celery, onion and garlic and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Add the paprika, bay leaf, stock, passata and tomatoes to the pan. Stir to combine.
3. Add the pear barley and simmer gently for 45 minutes until the barley is tender and the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring now and then to stop the risotto sticking. Add a little extra water to the pan during cooking if the risotto starts to become too dry.
4. While the risotto is cooking, prepare the topping by toasting the caraway seeds in a small, dry pan over a low heat. Once toasted, remove the pan from the heat and leave the seeds to cool before lightly crushing.
5. In a small bowl combine the caraway seeds, feta and oregano and olive oil.
6. When the risotto has finished cooking, divide it into two bowls, stir in the lemon zest, add the feta topping and serve.