Best Italian Barley Soup Recipes

MOM'S ITALIAN BEEF BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a slow cooker, combine beef, water, bouillon, onion, tomato sauce, barley, salt and pepper.
• Cover, and cook on Low for 5 hours.

ITALIAN LENTIL AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Sort through lentils to remove debris and shriveled beans, then rinse.
• Add lentils to crock pot, along with barley, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, dried herbs and bay leaf.
• Pour in broth, water, and tomatoes.
• Cover and cook on low heat for 12 to 14 hours, or on high heat for 5 to 6 hours.
• Discard bay leaf and just before serving stir in parsley and vinegar. (If you don't use the vinegar, the soup might taste more bland as you're omitting a major contributor of flavor.).
• Lentils aren't like dried beans. They don't require soaking and cook pretty quickly when you do it right.
• When you buy your lentils, go somewhere that has a decent turnover so your lentils haven't been sitting on the shelf for years. Also, don't add any additional salt to the soup while it is cooking, and don't add lentils to already boiling water as either one can make lentils tough.

ITALIAN CHICKEN MEATBALL SOUP WITH BARLEY

Steps:

• Mix seasonings and dried herbs in a small bowl.
• Rinse barley and drain it.
• Combine barley in a large soup pot with the 9 cups of chicken broth, about HALF the herb mixture, and 3 of the cloves of crushed garlic.
• Bring to a simmer and cook covered for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the meatball ingredients and form into balls the size of walnuts in the shell (you will get 20 or more).
• When the barley/broth mixture has simmered for 30 minutes, add in the remaining 3 crushed garlic cloves, the rest of the seasonings and dried herb mixture, the meatballs, and the carrots and onion.
• Bring soup back to a low simmer, and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring gently every 10 or 15 minutes so meatballs won't stick to the bottom or break apart.
• Serve soup topped with chopped parsley and a generous handful of grated Parmesan cheese.

ITALIAN BEEF AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pan.
• Brown ground beef over medium high heat.
• Drain/rinse well.
• Place carrots and onion in slow cooker. Sprinkle with thyme, rosemary and pepper.
• Top with barley and meat.
• Pour broth and tomatoes with juice over meat.
• Cover; cook on LOW 8 to 10 hours.

ITALIAN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Bring soup stock and water to a boil in a large stockpot.
• Reduce heat and add barley, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, red wine, lemon, pepper, and salt.
• Cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent barley from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Add the herbs, tomatoes, and tomato paste and cook for 1 more hour.
• Leave the lid on during cooking and occasionally check to see if you need to add water.
• Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese before serving.

ITALIAN MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except salt, pepper and sour cream in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream.