Description
A hearty and nutritious Vegetable Barley Soup packed with tender barley, fresh vegetables, and fragrant herbs. This comforting soup is perfect for a warm meal, featuring a wholesome blend of onion, celery, carrots, broccoli, and cilantro in a flavorful vegetable broth base.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ onion diced
- 5 ribs celery chopped
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- Handful cilantro chopped
Grains and Broth
- 1 cup barley
- 7 cups vegetable broth
- Red chili flakes to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil and sauté onion: In a large pot, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally to soften it without browning.
- Add celery and carrots: Stir in the chopped celery and sliced carrots. Sauté for 4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften and develop some color.
- Incorporate garlic: Add the minced garlic and continue to sauté for 1 more minute, releasing its fragrance without burning.
- Add barley, broccoli, and broth: Mix in the barley, broccoli florets, and pour in the vegetable broth. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the soup: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 30 minutes or until the barley is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Finish with herbs and seasoning: Stir in the chopped cilantro for freshness. Add red chili flakes according to your preferred spice level, then remove from heat.
- Serve hot: Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy it warm as a nutritious, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use a high-quality vegetable broth or bouillon to enhance the soup’s flavor.
- For a thinner consistency, add extra vegetable broth while cooking or when reheating.
- Sauté the vegetables a bit longer to caramelize them and deepen the soup’s flavor.
- To prevent the soup from thickening too much over time, cook and store the barley separately and add it just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 300 ml)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
