Best Creamy Lemon Barley Soup Recipes

WINTER LEMON CHICKEN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• SAUTE: Place a dutch oven or a stock pot over medium-high heat. Drizzle in the olive oil and add the mirepoix and leeks and sauté the veggies for 4-5 minutes or until the veggies soften a bit, add the garlic and pepper flakes during the last 30 seconds and stir until fragrant. Season the veggies with a big pinch of salt and white pepper and add the barley.
• SIMMER: Let the barley toast for 1 minute, stirring as required so nothing sticks or burns. Pour in the chicken stock along with 1 cup of water, and bay leaves. Allow the soup to come to a boil. Lower the heat to low and cover; let simmer for 20-23 minutes or until the barley is mostly cooked. Add the chicken and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and kick the back up to medium-high and let the soup gain a simmer, then lower the heat to low for 5 minutes, at this point you don't want it to have any bubbles on the surface. Taste and adjust with additional lemon juice as desired. Keep in mind that the cream will mellow out the flavor a bit. We like it with 6 tablespoons of lemon juice!
• FINISH: Pour the cream into a small bowl and add 2 tablespoons of the prepared soup (just the broth if you can) and stir. Pour this cream mixture into the prepared soup while stirring let it heat through for 1 minute but make sure to not let the soup boil from here on out! Turn off the heat stir in the lemon zest and tarragon. Serve topped with chopped parsley and with tons of crusty bread, if desired!

CHICKEN WITH BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Combine water, chicken thighs, and bay leaves in a large stock pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and cook at a simmer until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove chicken to a cutting board to cool. Remove and discard bones, skin, and fat from chicken. Cut remaining meat into bite-sized pieces.
• Cool broth until the fat congeals on the surface. Skim and discard fat.
• Return soup to heat; add carrots, celery, onion, pearl barley, bay leaves, chicken bouillon, poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to low, place cover on the pot, and simmer until the barley is cooked and the vegetables are tender, 60 to 90 minutes. Stir lemon juice into the soup just before serving.

BEEF BARLEY SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Season beef with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Let mixture stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour at room temperature.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add meat and cook in batches, turning occasionally, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Drizzle in additional oil if the pan seems dry. Transfer the browned meat to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
• Add leek, celery, fennel and garlic to the pan; cook until soft, about 7 minutes, adjusting the heat if necessary to prevent burning. Push the vegetables to one side, and, if the pan looks dry, add a bit more oil. Add tomato paste and spices to the cleared spot and cook until tomato paste is darkened and caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir together vegetables and tomato paste.
• Return meat to the pot. Pour in stock and 8 cups water. Using kitchen string, tie sage, rosemary and bay leaves into a bundle and drop into pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, partly covered, for 1 hour.
• Stir in the carrots, parsnips, turnips, barley, 1 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer until barley is cooked through and meat is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour more. Pull herb bunch from pot and discard.
• Stir spinach and parsley into pot until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes (kale may take a few minutes longer), then stir in lemon zest and juice. If soup is too thick, thin it with a little water. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve with chiles, if you like.