Baked Barley With Shiitake Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 1/2 cups chopped onions (about 3 medium)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 cups sliced button mushrooms (about 9 ounces)
• 3 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 8 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked pearl barley
• 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• fresh thyme sprig (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sugar; cover and cook 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently.

2. 2

   Add mushrooms; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently. Add barley; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. 3

   Remove from heat. Stir in soy sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme.

4. 4

   Preheat oven to 350°.

5. 5

   Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour broth over barley mixture; cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until barley is tender.

6. 6

   Let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.