Don't shop Walmart so I don't know where THEY have it (if at all)...
but my local markets have it with the dried beans.

Yes, it's probably with the dried beans and/or rice. I buy mine at the health food store. They have it in bulk, often on sale. I love barley......

Looks kinda like rice so you may be missing it. Comes in the same size plastic package as dry beans.

Might also be closer to the rice than the beans, depending on your store's layout, and I've seen it packaged in a box, too. But most definably near dried beans and peas and rice.

Thanks! The 2 workers I asked looked at me like I'd grown a second head. They had no clue what barley was.

Do you have Whole Foods near you? Betting they have barley!

All grocery stores carry it. As others have posted, it is with the rice and beans.

In our store, it is stocked by the cereals, brans and oatmeal, Jamie.

Are you making soup? I love barley in a beef soup.

Whole Foods! I went for the first time to one yesterday. What a neat store. It is about an hour away so it won't be a weekly place for me but I do love their Cherry Vanilla Creme Soda.

They also had barley- I was looking for Quinoa and it was on the same aisle. At our Walmart it is kept with the rice.

I don't know if all Walmarts are set up the same.

Trish

One of the stores I go to, has it in a box, on the top shelf (but still near the beans). There are "gourmet" soup mixes in boxes as well.

Moni

"Comes in the same size plastic package as dry beans."

Never saw it in plastic here... comes in a cardboard box.

I have some in the pantry. It's Publix brand and it's in a plastic bag like dried beans. Don't remember where in the store I found it, though.

The barley I buy is in a box as well, in the rice and bean aisle. Be aware, if you add it to the soup the broth will disappear!!!! I love Mushroom Barley soup.

Never had barley soup. Can't recall having barley any thing.

You can get it thru the mail at Country Life Natural Foods in MI, My Son works there. They have all sorts of stuff and will send you a catalog. We use to order items from them when we belonged to a coop.

Tonight I made a barley pilaf with broccoli. It was delicious! My Scottish genes were happy.

My Wal Mart only carries the Goya brand of barley. If there's a section in your store with Goya products, it should be there. It's in a plastic bag just like a bag of beans.

Some stores sell it where the dried beans and grains are. It might be in a box if it's in that section. And it's entirely possible that your Wal Mart doesn't carry it all.

It's supply and demand. If barley is not popular in the area that feeds into your store, it won't be stocked. Wal Mart does inventory through their check-outs. If not enough of the product moves through the line, they'll just stop sending it to that particular store.

What does barley taste like?

Yes Pooks, making soup & wanted to try putting barley in. I've eaten it, but I've never cooked with it personally.

Glenda if you make homemade soup such as vegetable beef, etc. try adding some barley. Cook the barley first or it will soak up your soup broth. It just adds a good taste to veggie soups.

Mmmm! Beef veg soup with barley! I find it either with the rice and beans in a box about the size of Krafts mac & cheese, or in the cereal isle, depending on the store. I don't think I've gotten it at Walmart, so I can't tell you where it might be there. If an employee doesn't know what it is and where to find it, ask to speak with the dried foods manager. They can look it up to see where it is if the manager doesn't know.

I just put it in with everything else, dried, and add extra liquid. I have only once cooked it in advance, and that was when my mom had soup made for camp, but didn't have any barley. I cooked it before I left for camp so it was ready to add to her soup.

Alisande, could you post your recipe for the barley pilaf with brocolli? Please?

Tami

Just made 3 quarts of mushroom and barley soup yesterday. It's definately soup weather here.

Barley doesn't have it's own taste. It's like rice in that it tastes on the flavor of the liquid it cooks in. It's just another grain that adds texture to a dish.

Tami, I didn't follow a recipe, but here's what I did:

Sauteed a medium onion, chopped, in about 2 tbsp. olive oil. Added a large clove of garlic, minced, and several shakes of marjoram. If you want to add pepper, add it here. (The herbs/seasonings can certainly be varied, depending on individual taste. Rosemary is good, or something spicier.)

I stirred in a cup of barley, and then added a can of chicken broth plus about a quarter-cup of water. Bring to a boil, covered, then simmer for a half-hour or more.

Test the barley for doneness, and add a medium head of broccoli, chopped (not finely), when the barley is almost done. Add a little water if necessary, and continue to cook, covered. It's a good idea to stir a couple of times while it cooks. Keep an eye on it so the broccoli doesn't get overcooked. A little salt might or might not be needed.

Hope you like it!

Thanks! Now I know, what to fix for supper tonight. I will just use a vegan broth, since my daughter is here.

Moni

Thank you Alisande! Sounds very good, but I'll be leaving out the garlic!

Tami

I got a box of the quick cooking kind at my Walmart (aisle 5) where the rice and mixes are it was Quaker Oats brand I like it when I make Lamb or beef stew Reminds me of the old Scotch Broth

Well, ours was delicious

:)

Thanks Alisande for the idea.

I didn't have an onion, but used a bit more garlic instead. Also added two carrots, one sweet potato, one regular potato, two red bell peppers, one big stalk of broccoli, and one yellow squash. I used a vegan broth. Some celery salt, pepper, rosemary powder and tomato powder as seasonings.

Yummy!

Moni

I buy the organic type in that section of the supermarket. I add 1/3 cup to split pea soup. Add it right before the peas. It doesn't break down as much and provides a nice "bite" contrast. I also add about 1 cup of grated carrots.

Good for you for being creative with it, Moni!

I made turkey soup tonight, and would normally have added barley. But since I already had the barley pilaf in the fridge, I put steel-cut oats in the soup instead. That was a first for me (in soup, that is), and it was a great addition!