Ingredients

  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons commercial pesto
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese

Method

  • Combine the first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 3 minutes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until tender.
  • While barley cooks, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add artichokes and garlic. Saute 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Stir pesto, lemon juice, and chickpeas into the cooked barley. Serve artichoke mixture over barley; top with cheese.