Description
A hearty and wholesome barley soup packed with vegetables, pearls of barley, and aromatic herbs, perfect for a comforting meal. This nourishing soup is easy to prepare on the stovetop and can be adjusted with your choice of vegetable broth and seasonings.
Ingredients
Scale
Grains and Legumes
- 3/4 cup (130 grams) pearled barley, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup (130 grams) frozen peas (or other beans)
Vegetables
- 1 medium-sized onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 1 large celery rib, sliced
- 1 medium-sized potato, cut into cubes
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste, or 1 diced tomato
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Liquids and Fats
- 4 ½ cups water or vegetable broth, plus more if needed
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Herbs and Seasonings
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 thyme sprigs (optional)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Add Aromatics: Add minced garlic, thyme sprigs, oregano, and bay leaves to the pot and stir for about 1 minute to release their flavors.
- Add Barley and Vegetables: Add the rinsed barley, cubed potatoes, and tomato paste (or diced tomato) to the pot, stirring well to combine all the ingredients.
- Add Liquid and Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth or water, add a pinch of salt and pepper, then raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let it cook gently for 25-30 minutes, or until the barley is tender. If you need more liquid or prefer a thinner soup, add an extra cup of water or broth during this time.
- Add Peas and Finish Cooking: When the barley is cooked through, add the frozen peas to the pot and cook for a further 5 minutes to heat them through.
- Season and Remove Herbs: Turn off the heat, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves from the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Typically, a pinch of salt is added at the beginning and about 1/2 teaspoon later, but adjust according to your broth’s saltiness and preference.
- Serve: Divide the soup into bowls and drizzle with a little extra olive oil or extra virgin olive oil. Add freshly ground black pepper if you like. For a non-vegan option, serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Notes
- The soup can be made with water or vegetable broth, adjusting seasoning accordingly.
- If you prefer a thinner soup, add extra water or broth as needed while cooking.
- Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves before serving to avoid tough textures.
- The recipe is naturally vegan but can be made vegetarian with parmesan added at serving.
- Nutrition information provided is an estimate.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: barley soup, vegetarian soup, vegan soup, healthy soup, vegetable barley soup, comforting soup
