Barley Risotto with Swiss Chard Radishes and Preserved Lemon Recipe

This recipe is adapted from sarah copeland's forthcoming book, "feast" (chronicle books). when you gradually add warm broth to barley, it turns tender and creamy--the same texture that arborio rice gives risotto. the chard, always amenable to grains, is a revelation, becoming sweet and almost satiny after about five minutes in the pot. and although cooking radishes may sound odd, it tames their bite without masking their liveliness. preserved lemon, with its complex aroma and acidity, stands up to the hearty flavors.