Barley and Potato Porridge with Clarified Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A traditional Tibetan breakfast porridge made with pearl barley, potatoes, and a rich clarified butter finish for mountainous resilience. This Asian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs pearl barley, potato, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Tibetan cuisine 380 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup pearl barley, 2 large potatoes diced into 1/4-inch cubes, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 tsp salt. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until barley is tender and potatoes are soft.
  2. Step 2: While porridge simmers, heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup clarified butter and melt completely, then remove from heat.
  3. Step 3: After 20 minutes, stir the porridge to break up clumps. If too thick, add a splash of water. Stir in the melted clarified butter mixture until fully incorporated.
  4. Step 4: Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently, until creamy and butter is fully absorbed.
  5. Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with 1/4 cup chopped chives.

Related recipes