Baked Barley with Shiitake Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 1/2 cups chopped onion (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 sprigs (optional)

Preparation

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sugar; cover and cook 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently. Add barley; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in soy sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme.
Preheat oven to 350°.
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. Let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

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