Why We Love Barley Flour!

Barley flour is one of those wonderful ingredients that has a wide range of applications and is enjoyed in many different ways. Not only can it be used to replace traditional flour but it can also be added to a meal to for some extra flavour. In this article, we take a look at some of the health benefits and some of our favourite ways it can be enjoyed.

Unique taste

One of the most obvious uses that barley flour has is in the baking of bread. Barley flour offers a great alternative to regular flour not only for the difference in taste, but also in its rich levels of fibre, containing almost four times the amount of fibre found in regular flour. Barley flour can be used to replace up to a quarter of regular flour to provide your home baked bread with greater nutritional value.

Being wheat free, barley flour contains fewer calories to regular flour and makes for a very unique taste when used to make bread. With its nutty taste, the bread made from a barley flour recipe is an ideal accompaniment to any homemade soups to give your meal a rustic flavour. When sliced thinly, barley flour bread makes for tasty entrees with the addition of a creamy cheese and pepper topping, and is also great with smoked salmon!

High nutritional value

Like many natural base ingredients, barley flour provides numerous nutritional benefits. Its high fibre content can benefit your digestive system and aids the body’s ability to remove unwanted toxins.

The dietary fibre found in barley flour is what’s called a ‘beta glucan’ which means that it helps to bind bile acids in the stomach and greater digestive system, which in turn helps to lower overall cholesterol in the body. When eaten with cholesterol free butters and margarines, barely flour can have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels, and even reverse high levels over time.

When used as part of a whole grain meal, such as a whole grain breakfast containing cereals and breads, the additional health benefits can include lowering your risk of heart disease. Many doctors and nutritionists are lauding the benefits of starting your day with a healthy whole grain breakfast, and you can certainly reap the rewards of starting your day with this great healthier option.

From classic bread loafs and buns to breakfast cereals, fajita wraps and more, barely flour can be used to make a range of savoury products. And with its many health benefits and wide range of applications, it is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to more traditional varieties of flour.