Beef barley soup - roasting THEN soaking?

[spiderdust]

In my TF recipe for beef barley soup, it says to roast the barley in the oven and then soak it for 7+ hours.

Wouldn't it be better to soak it without the roasting? I can't see how roasted barley will sprout.

[Cynthia Mosher]

That does sound odd. Personally I'd soak without roasting but someone else may have some experienced info to offer.