Description

A hearty and comforting barley soup packed with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs, perfect for a nutritious and warming meal. This easy-to-make recipe features pearled barley simmered with onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, and peas in a flavorful vegetable broth, enhanced with tomato paste and herbs like oregano and thyme.

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
1 large celery rib, sliced
2 large carrots, diced
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 Spices

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 shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 7 minutes.
Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic, thyme sprigs, oregano, and bay leaves. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Incorporate Barley and Potato: Add the rinsed pearled barley, cubed potatoes, and tomato paste (or diced tomato). Stir well to combine all ingredients.
Add Broth and Season: Pour in the vegetable broth or water. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Increase heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
Simmer the Soup: Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the barley is tender. If the soup is too thick, add an extra cup of water or broth as needed.
Add Peas and Finish Cooking: Stir in the frozen peas and cook for an additional 5 minutes until heated through.
Season and Serve: Turn off the heat, remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired. Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and add freshly ground black pepper. Optionally, serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if not keeping it vegan. Enjoy!

Notes

Adjust salt according to your broth’s saltiness and personal preference.
Vegetable broth can be substituted with water for a lighter soup.
Add extra water or broth to achieve desired soup thickness.
For a non-vegan version, freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds delicious flavor.
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients used.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: International

Keywords: barley soup, vegetarian soup, hearty soup, vegetable soup, healthy soup, easy soup recipe