Mushroom Barley Soup
by Ellen Kanner![A white bowl filled with barley soup with chunks of carrot, mushroom, and sprigs of parsley.](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/mushroom-barley-soup.jpeg)
This comfort classic requires minimal ingredients and effort and offers big rewards. The mushrooms themselves offer deep, rich flavor, and all kinds of immunity-boosting benefits, besides. It’s filling, nourishing, a perfect soup for the winter blahs.
Ingredients
1 ounce (roughly 1 cup) dried mushrooms, preferably organic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 cup pearl barley
8 ounces (1/2 pound) fresh mushrooms, preferably organic, wiped clean and chopped
1 bay leaf
Sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pour the dried mushrooms into a large pot. Bring 6 cups of water to boil. Pour the boiling water over the dried mushrooms. This will become the broth for your soup, and will soften the dried mushrooms, as well.
- In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Once it starts to shimmer, add the minced garlic and chopped carrots. Sauté vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they soften and begin to brown—about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the barley and the fresh mushrooms.
- Strain the broth from the dried mushroom water and add to the pot. Bring it to boil.
- Chop the softened dried mushrooms, and add them to the pot. Drop in the bay leaf. Give everything a sit.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. The barley will have swelled and become plump and tender. Remove the bay leaf.
- Season with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Stir and serve!
Notes
- If the barley continues to drink up all the broth, thin soup with an additional cup of water or vegetable broth.
- Serves 4 to 6.
- Find more of Ellen’s recipes at Soulful Vegan and follow her on Facebook.
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/natalia-rudisuli-NwGdGFuJcOI-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
Sweet Potato Challah
An Atlanta based congregation, Beth Tikvah, let us know how incredibly delicious this recipe was.
Appetizer
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4547-scaled.jpg)
Vegan Moussaka (Gluten-Free)
My dinner table is always full for Jewish holidays. Friends, family, visitors from afar, and strays and strangers from...
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/aviyal-03.webp)
Vegan Aviyal (Kerala-style Avial Vegetable Subji)
What could be better than a dish that is not only suitable to be offered as bhoga to the...
Main
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/Goma-Dressing-02.webp)
Vegan Goma Dressing (Japanese Roasted Sesame Dressing)
Get ready to sesa-meet your new favorite dressing! It’s time to unlock the ses-amazing potential of your salads! Check...
Condiments
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/Mercimek-kofte-feature-2.jpg)
Vegan Mercimek Köfte (Turkish Bulgur and Lentil Meatballs)
This traditional vegan Turkish appetizer will have you rocking the house party (len)til the break of dawn. These vegan...
Main
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/Loubia-03.webp)
Vegan Loubia (Moroccan Stewed White Beans) (WFPB)
Loubia is here to make you go “beananas” with every nourishing spoonful. You will wonder where this recipe “bean”...
Main
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5282-rotated.jpg)
Polenta with fresh veggies (WFPB)
I’m new to polenta but found it to be delicious and this meal lasted me for three days!
Appetizer
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/applebread_lisaapfelberg.jpg)
Apple Bread (WFPB)
This newly created recipe was a hit with all the guests we hosted this weekend. Everyone asked for a...
Breakfast
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5185-rotated.jpg)
Blueberry Pancakes (WFPB)
These delicious blueberry pancakes are super fluffy and you wouldn’t even know they’re actually good for you!
Breakfast
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5212-rotated.jpg)
Sweet Potato Breakfast Muffins (WFPB)
These fluffy muffins use sweet potato and whole wheat flour, making them the perfect light and nutritious breakfast to-go.
Breakfast
![](https://jewishveg.org/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-design-4.png)
Matzah Bake
This version of a Passover lasagna will be a hit at your Seder, and you’ll be tempted to make...
Main
Tofu Egg Salad
A perfect sandwich for a picnic… or just a quick and easy lunch! This egg salad is made out...
Main