This is a recipe for a Pearl Barley Soup filled with lots of vegetables that’s clean, nutritious and (yet!) oh-so-tasty. The chewy, nutty barley makes it so much more interesting than using just pasta or rice.
It’s also great base recipe to make your own soup. Follow my cooking method and broth flavourings, then mix and match your vegetables to suit your cravings – or fridge contents!
How many times have you walked past a packet of pearl barley at the grocery store and not given it a thought? Next time, pick up a packet! Pearl barley is cheap, easy to cook and makes for a much more flavoursome addition into soups and salads rather than the usual rice or pasta.
So today, a Barley Soup! Simple to make, clean-flavoured and filled with nourishing veggies, the little trick that elevates the taste here is sautéing a small amount of herbs and spices for the soup. It really makes the flavour bloom. You will be surprised!
Pearl barley is a nutty, chewy whole grain that’s much tastier and nutritious than boring old pasta or rice!
Do you cook barley before adding it to soup? Your beef barley soup will simmer long enough to cook the barley. There is no need for the additional step of cooking the barley first. The barley takes about 30 minutes to cook completely.
Storing leftover Pearl Barley Soup
As with all soups with starches such as rice or pasta, the barley will continue to absorb the stock when left overnight. It will become softer than ideal and thicken the soup considerably, not to mention the loss of all the soup broth!!
So to store leftovers, it is best to separate the broth. I use a strainer, though you could just use a slotted spoon to scoop out all the solids. We don’t need to be 100% meticulous here!
I just arrived at the end of the post, prepared to write about what to serve with Barley Soup like I do for most other dishes. But there’s no need! This is a lovely complete meal in one big pot. It’s full of nutritious veggies with enough tasty starch to give you energy and keep you full.
And I just realised, not only is this vegetarian, it’s vegan too. Yay vegans! – Nagi x
Ingredients in Barley Soup
Here’s what goes in this Barley Soup:
Beef and Barley Soup | Weird name but delicious soup recipe!
FAQ
Should barley be soaked before adding to soup?
Should barley be cooked?
Can you can soup with barley in it?
Does barley help thicken soup?
Can you add uncooked barley to soup?
In fact, many people prefer to add uncooked barley to their soup and let it cook in the soup. This gives the barley a slightly chewy texture. If you want to cook the barley before adding it to soup, here are some tips: 1. Rinse the barley well before cooking. 2. Add the barley to a pot of boiling water. 3.
Can one chew barley seeds?
Although very small, barley seeds can be chewed. In fact, if we chew or crush the seeds before eating them, we increase the availability of nutrients.
Do you need to cook pearl barley before making soup?
There’s no need to cook pearl barley before adding it to soup. This soup calls for almost 2 hours of cooking time which will give the barley plenty of time to soften. What is the best cut of beef for soup? We like extra-tender beef for our beef soups, so we like to use a chuck roast or chuck shoulder roast for this recipe.
Can you eat Beef Barley Soup with bread?
Beef Barley Soup is a complete meal on its own, but a slice of crusty bread or a simple green salad on the side can make it even more satisfying. We love serving this with our Quick Gluten Free Bread or Homemade Garlic Bread . Can beef barley soup be frozen? Absolutely. This soup freezes beautifully!