Tropical Fruit Barley Risotto -Tropical Temptations Challenge


Soaked in with the warmth of the sunny tropics,the luscious sweet tropical fruits make up a good part of my fruit feast.Although I was raised in tropics,I wasn't a vivid fruit lovers as a child,only recently did I discover the bounty of tropical fruits.Limited to a few that make it up to the north,there are still so many more to try,if only I could take trip to the exotic lands and devour some more.



It was one of those days I had the plethora of tropical delights in my fruit basket and the theme of tropical fruits stuck me.
The barley risotto,that I normally cook up with vegetables ,got a whole new look and taste with the sweet fruity make over.Barley for all its excellent benefits makes a perfect substitute for the starchy arborio rice that is normally used to give the risotto a creamy consistency.The richness of coconut milk and the mellow appealing tropical fruit makes this a very special kind of risotto,which I would say makes a great breakfast\brunch meal or a dessert course.
I wouldn't encourage cooking the soft and sweet fruits,its best to add the fruits towards the end of the cooking process for this risotto.

Recipe : Tropical Fruit Barley Risotto
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 cup barley,rinsed
2 cups light coconut milk
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon Agave nectar or honey
1 kiwi,peeled and sliced
quarter of a papaya,peeled and sliced
1 small ripe mango,sliced
1 very ripe plantain,peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoon virgin pressed coconut oil
1/8 teaspoon salt

Method
Heat oil in a large sauce pan,add the sliced plantains and a teaspoon of sugar,cook 4-5 minutes on each side until caramelized.Set aside.
In the same pan,add the barley and saute until pearly white,stir in the sugar,now start adding the coconut milk ,about 1/4 cup each time and stir until the barley absorbs it all,cook until is soft and creamy. Add the pine apple pieces,vanilla and agave nectar towards the end of cooking process.
To serve,lay the caramelized plantains,kiwi and top the sliced fruit over the risotto.



Health Nut Challenge 7 : Tropical Temptations

I am very pleased to reveal Tropical fruits as the next theme of Health Nut challenge.This has to be a simpler challenge than the previous.Satiate your fruity desire,pick the most exotic or common tropical fruit found in your part of the world,and dish up a tropical fruit temptation and share them at the Health nut challenge.

Here are the challenge 7 guidelines:
* Prepare a healthy appetizing dish with any one or all of the tropical fruits.Mention about the nutrition and health benefits of each of the fruit.
-> Avocados
-> Bananas
-> Coconuts
-> Mangoes
-> Kiwi
-> Papaya
-> Plantains
-> Pine apples
-> Jack fruit
-> Star Fruit
-> Dragon fruit
-> Passion fruit
-> Guava
-> Lychee
-> Tamarind
-> or other exotic tropical fruits known to you.

* Limit 3 entries per blogger.Please use the logo(the big or smaller in the side bar) and link your post to this announcement page.Send the entries before last day of September 2010, using the form below.

Health Nut Challenge Form

Your Name
Your Email Address
Blog Name
Recipe Name
Recipe URL
Picture of the dish(300 pixels wide)
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I'm allowing ample time for this challenge in scope of more entries and also the next couple months(Aug-Sept) your truly is planning for a vacation and blog in inactive mode.
The Ice cream Challenge round up is scheduled for next week,so you can still send in the entries till the end of this week.

Comments

That dish is so healthy! A delicious fruit risotto!

Cheers,

Rosa
Indian Khana said…
This looks gr8...healthy...
Sarah said…
Can't beat the nutrition in this risotto.I'm loving all the sunny side fruits =)
Unknown said…
You never run out of healthy makeovers,do you?.This is great way to incorporate more fruits in diet.
Cool Lassi(e) said…
Great challenge and awesome risotto!The healthiest risotto ever!
Kiran said…
Nutritious challenge.Will definitely send my entries.Barley risotto looks delicious.

Please do send your creations with barley to my CWF:Barley evnt
Swathi said…
Nice event Yasmeen. Let me see what i can send.Risotto looks delicious.
Nitha said…
Healthy and delicious risotto...
Rahin said…
looks bright n colorful , hopefully should be able to participate in this challenge , insha Allah
GEETHA ACHAL said…
Healthy and colorful salad
Looks tremendously healthy .. hey can I send which i posted already.. ?
Rachana said…
A healthiest fruity risotto :-) Awesome!
Priya Suresh said…
Fabulous challenge again, risotto looks delightful and yummy..
Suganya said…
That is a another lovely challenge..... Healthy event...

Ur Risotto looks so YUMMY!!!!
Unknown said…
Lovely looking risotto and what a great theme for the challenge, will surely participate.
Umm Mymoonah said…
Risotto looks lovely and lovely theme for your next event.
Nithu Bala said…
Barley risotto looks tempting..healthy..nice theme..will send you the entries..
Joanne said…
I'm so excited for this challenge! Tropical fruits are my favorites!

that risotto looks downright delicious. I would love to have that as my dessert every day!
RV said…
This is a yummilicious tropical explosion.
Niloufer Riyaz said…
Tempting Risotto, n wonderful theme
FOODESSA said…
I never give up the chance to devour tropical fruits. I too as a child used to cringe at the thought of eating some fruit like the mango...now, I just can't seem to get enough of it ;o)
Thanks for sharing that beautiful fruit theme photo...just gorgeous!
Flavourful wishes, Claudia
Unknown said…
What a beautiful dish and photographs, I love your creative use of the tropical fruits and of course healthy too:-)
CurryLeaf said…
excellent risotto.Love this Yasmeen.Will surely send an entry
Suganya said…
Hi Yasmeen....
Thank u for letting me know that u have not received my entry for "I scream for Ice cream challenge".....

I have filled the entry from once again, Do check it out and let me know if u have not received it yet
Jamie said…
Great challenge yasmine.I am a complete sucker for a creamy risotto, I could try this barley one for all its healthy benefits.
A real healthy recipe! Looks delicious and mouth-watering!!
Torviewtoronto said…
Lovely event will be sending an entry
Please check out the event in my site
http://torviewtoronto.blogspot.com/2010/07/event-announcement.html
Looking forward for your entry
Salsa Verde said…
I never tried sweet risotto, but that recipe its a temptation!!
Love,
Lia.
Anonymous said…
A very unusual risotto with fruits.You have a great blog.

Suzanne from Australia.
Sunshinemom said…
A risotto with fruits is new to me and that too with barley! Very healthy as well:).

I just sent a soup for your challenge.
Spice Rack said…
Tropical Fruit Barley Risotto looks so tasty. And I believe that it is a very nutritious deal, from potassium to vitamin E, and etc.

All in all, I love to have it for dessert.

Happy cooking everyone.
Unknown said…
Interesting.I have to check back with the entries.
Shabs.. said…
i badly wanted to submit some entry for this one and I am so relaxed and pleased to see the last date of submission...i am extremely poor at deadlines and so dont attend most events....this should fit my schedule....i very much loved the theme and idea yasmeen...u shud be getting some of my entrees here yasmeen.....BTW, loved ur risotto...never tasted one...and i extremely loved ur tuna and burger meal....shud say 'U HAVE GOT LOADS OF PATIECE DEAR'.
love,
shabs.
sangeeta said…
How did i miss it ??

i'd love barley like this i am sure.
and would love to send a couple of entries too.
Tsclistens said…
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tsclistens - surveymayor.com
Tsclistens said…
The TscLlistens survey is being conducted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and according to them, your insightful input is extremely valuable. At least this survey is! Yes, you did read it correctly. You can use the discount offers and coupons you receive for the Tropical Smoothie Cafe or for your next order after taking the TSCListens survey. 
tsclistens - surveymayor.com

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