Ayurvedic Benefits of Curried Barley & Red Lentils

By Amy Bourque, Transform at Amy Bourque Yoga

A warm bowl of curried barley and red lentils is more than just comfort food—it’s deeply therapeutic through the lens of Ayurveda. This dish brings together nutritive grains, protein-rich legumes, and warming spices to balance the doshas, strengthen digestion, and nourish the whole body-mind system.

Plus it has about 20 grams of protein per serving!

Although barley is light, dry and cold which is Vata provoking, these qualities can be balanced by adding heating digestive spices like curry, turmeric, black pepper and dried ginger. The same with red lentils. Red lentils are more difficult to digest with the dry and cold qualities but adding lots of digestive spices and ghee which is highly nutritive and helps to pacify Vata.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Pearl barley

• 2 cups Red lentils

• 1 cup Frozen peas

• 1 small Onion diced

• 6 cups Vegetable stock or broth

• 1 - 2 cups water as needed

• 2 tablespoon Ghee

• 1 1/2 tablespoon Curry powder

• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric

• 1 teaspoon dried Ginger powder

• Black pepper

• Salt

Instructions:

• In a non-stick pot, add 2 tablespoons of ghee.

• Add onion and cook until translucent.

• Add the red lentils, pearl barley, vegetable stock and all of the spices. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat to low-medium and allow to simmer for about 40 minutes stirring occasionally.

• Add the frozen peas and cook for another 5 minutes or until pearl barley and peas are soft.