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Barley Soup
Recipe by: Fae’s Twist & Tango (fae-magazine.com)
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup pearled barley
• 4 cups water
• ½ tsp salt – adjust to amount in broth
• 1 leek – sliced (see photo for cleaning instruction)
• 2 cups chicken broth
DIRECTIONS
Slice off the root end and the dark-green tops. Halve the leeks lengthwise. Splay the folds apart and rinse them under running water, letting the grit run out.
◊ Pearled barley tends to foam a lot during the cooking process and needs to be frequently checked. To avoid overflowing as much as possible, just before cooking, put the pearled barley in a large enough bowl with plenty of water. In the water, rub them between two hands to scrape off any powdery substance. Drain in a fine-meshed colander, rinse until clear water runs through. Do not pre-soak.
◊ In a deep, medium sized pot, add washed pearled barley, 4 cups of room-temperature water, salt, pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 45 minutes.
◊ Add the sliced leeks, chicken broth and simmer for another 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
◊ Using a hand-held or regular blender, purée the cooked barley and leek.
Options
– Instead of leek, dice 1 small onion (110 g/4oz). Sauté in 1 tsp vegetable oil or butter, until slightly golden. Add at the time leek was to be added.
– To enhance visually by adding a bit of color to the soup, at the time of serving, add 3 Tbsp of blanched, finely diced carrots and/or 2 Tbsp of chopped parsley or cilantro.
Suggested serving
◊ 1- plain, 2- with cream, 3- with lemon juice, 4- garnish with chopped scallion, 5- with fresh ground pepper
~ Bon Appétit! ~
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So, what’s cooking in your kitchen?
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Healthy and delicious soup!!
🙂
This looks wonderful and your photo is amazing! I hope that one day I’ll be able to take food photos like that. Celeste 🙂
Celeste (a heavenly name)! I have an average instant camera, and my white kitchen counter is the background of all my photos. 😀 )))
I hope you don’t mind my sharing my version with you, Fae, but my pearl barley soup has developed over time. I guess it’s become less pearl barley and more of a vegetable soup. But (as well as the leek and barley and stock) I add, red lentils, a carrot or two, a parsnip – grated, green beans, zucchini, mushrooms 20 mnutes before soup is ready and a handful of (small) lima beans.
Mary, I don’t mind at all, and thank you for sharing your richer veggies version. Especially, when colors are added with carrots or greens, it probably looks prettier too.
This sounds like such a delicious and creamy soup. I love barley but never thought to puree it.
Guess what’s simmering in the pot right now! I went out and got the barley and leek after reading this recipe. I think it’ll be another winner! 😀
I love soups of all kinds. I love barley soup and yours looks amazing. And I especially love the clay bowls you have served them in. Absolutely stunning! I collect ceramics and pottery and have a special love for Japanese pottery. Can’t wait to try this out Fae!!
Fae, your recipe blog is a treasure. I mean this. It’s not only pleasing to the eye but it is like recipes passed down from a mother to a daughter. I thank you for sharing these nourishing, beautiful foods with us. I have never known a cooking blog that has blessed me as much as this one. To cooking and always dancing!! (hey, now I know why your cooking blog is a twist and tango!!) 😀
I love barley soup and yours looks delicious.
Love this as well. I’m out of pearl barley right now. Yet, leeks are still tasting great as it’s been so cold here.
Nice post Fae. Great images, making the food more appealing. Really improving the way you present your posts Fae from the first time I came across your blog. 🙂
One of my favorite comfort soups. Also: love your photo composition!
Sounds and looks delicious!
My mother used pearled barley a lot in stew and things when I was a child and it’s making a bit of a comeback here. And I’ve been using barley couscous. Great recipe, Fae!
Your soup looks fabulous Fae! I have to admit though that I really have my eye on the bowl the soup is served in… just gorgeous! Is that earthenware/pottery Japanese? LOVE it!
Delicious soup and stunning photo, I LOVE your bowls!!
Love your cups Fae. They look so cute!