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Recipes for those grocery items no-one wants

Couscous. Pearl barley. Risoni. The panic-buyers may not want them, but they hold a special place in our hearts.
Beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts

Beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts

William Meppem (main)

Is risoni the most maligned pasta variety in the country? If the state of the supermarket shelves in these strange times is any indication, it seems like nothing can convince shoppers to add the rice-shaped pasta to their basket. Lasagne sheets, brown rice, couscous, pearl barley – they might be the reject supermarket items no-one wants, but in our eyes, they’re recipe gold.

Roast cauliflower with almonds, Israeli couscous and za’atar

What to do with: Israeli couscous (also known as pearl couscous or moghrabieh)?

Make: roast cauliflower with almonds, Israeli couscous and za’atar.

Middle Eastern-inspired beetroot and moghrabieh salad
Photo: William Meppem

Middle Eastern-inspired beetroot and moghrabieh salad

Mussels, risoni and herbs
Photo: Ben Dearnley

One-pot recipe for mussels with risoni and herbs

What to do with: risoni?

Make this: pne-pot recipe for mussels with risoni and herbs.

Lamb with orzo and olives recipe

Lamb with orzo and olives

Pearl barley polenta
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Guy Grossi’s pearl barley polenta

What to do with: pearl barley?

Make: Guy Grossi’s pearl barley polenta.

Mushroom and pearl barley soup (minestra di orzo e funghi)
Photo: William Meppem

Mushroom and pearl barley soup (minestra di orzo e funghi)

Casarecce with pork sausage, cavolo nero and chilli
Photo: Benito Martin

Casarecce with pork sausage, cavolo nero and chilli

What to do with: casarecce?

Make this: casarecce with pork sausage, cavolo nero and chilli.

Casarecce with artichokes, capers, dill, lemon and mozzarella
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Casarecce with artichokes, capers, dill, lemon and mozzarella

Mushroom and pine nut brown rice bowl
Photo: Benito Martin

Mushroom and pine nut brown rice bowl

What to do with: brown rice?

Make this: mushroom and pine nut brown rice bowl.

Brown rice congee with ginger and chilli-black bean sauce
Photo: Chris Court

Brown rice congee with ginger and chilli-black bean sauce

Mussels, risoni and herbs

One-pot recipe for mussels with risoni and herbs

What to do with: risoni?

Make this: one-pot recipe for mussels with risoni and herbs.

Lamb meatballs, risoni, yogurt and cucumber
Photo: Mark Roper

Lamb meatballs, risoni, yogurt and cucumber

A white baking tray with lasagne, with a rectangle slice cut out.
Photo: Teny Aghamalian

Lasagne

What to do with: lasagne sheets?

Make this: classic lasagne.

Lasagne with romanesco (Lasagne con broccolo romanesco)
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Lasagne with romanesco

Or: Sarah Cicolini’s lasagne with romanesco.

Beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts
Photo: William Meppem

Beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts

What to do with: couscous?

Make these: beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts.

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