Gladiators were known as ‘barley eaters.’ A small heap of the pearlescent grains nourishes the whole family.  These plump pearls have a rich nut-like flavour and yield a velvety texture, leaving you feeling full. The versatile gems are a good source of selenium, a disease-fighting compound, enhancing the mood. An alternative to rice and pasta, barley can be used to add texture to broths and stews. Packed with fibre, pearl barley can be used in vegetable soups, salads, beef and barley stews, or how about a perfect porridge with baked apples to get you through a day's work?