1 tablespoon chopped parsley (plus extra for garnish)
1 tablespoon chopped chives (plus extra for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees
Chop your shallots and garlic
Set aside
Peel and dice your sweet potato into small chunks (about 1/2 inch)
Put your sweet potato chunks onto a baking sheet and drizzle on enough olive oil to moisten all of the sweet potato pieces
Sprinkle on 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Mix together with your hands until all the sweet potato cubes are evenly coated with salt, pepper, and olive oil
Put the baking sheet in the oven and roast the sweet potatoes for 8-10 minutes
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Once the butter is melted, add your shallots and garlic into the pan
Let the shallots and garlic cook until the shallots are translucent
Once your sweet potatoes have been cooking for 8-10 minutes, take them out, turn them over with a spatula, and pop them back in the oven for another 7-9 minutes, until they are tender and completely cooked through
Once your shallots are translucent, add your barley into the pan and let it toast for a minute or two, stirring constantly
Add 1/2 cup of chicken stock (or veggie if you are making this vegetarian) and bring it to a simmer, stirring often
Continue to stir and simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed into the barley
Once it has been absorbed, add the next 1/2 cup of liquid
Continue this process until all 2 1/4 cups of stock have been used
It will take about 20 minutes
Once your barley is tender and cooked through, remove from the heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree
Mix together completely
Add your roasted sweet potatoes, Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons of herbs