Barley risotto with balsamic pork and beetroot

Instructions

1. Place barley in a medium bowl. Cover with cold water and set aside for 4 hours. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, combine juice, vinegar and half the garlic in a shallow dish. Add pork and turn to coat. Cover and place in fridge until required.
3. Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan-forced. Wrap each beetroot in foil and place on a baking tray. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, peel beetroots and cut into strips.
4. Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook mushrooms, stirring, for 4–5 minutes or until just tender. Transfer to a plate.
5. Place stock in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until required.
6. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion and remaining garlic, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add barley and stir to coat. Reduce heat and add hot stock mixture, a ladle (½ cup/125ml) at a time, stirring constantly for 20–25 minutes or until barley is tender.
7. Meanwhile, line a baking tray with baking paper. Heat remaining oil in same cleaned frying pan used for mushrooms over medium-high heat. Cook pork, turning, for 5–7 minutes or until browned. Transfer to prepared tray and bake for 8 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Transfer to a plate. Cover pork with foil and set aside to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thickly.
8. Stir mushrooms and spinach into risotto mixture. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through and spinach wilts. Top risotto with beetroot, pork and goat’s cheese. Sprinkle with chervil or parsley to serve.