Rustic Vegetable Barley Mushrooms (Printable Version)

Wholesome barley and vegetables come together in a hearty, comforting dish perfect for chilly days.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 large potato, peeled and diced
09 - 1 zucchini, diced
10 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
11 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
12 - 6 cups vegetable broth

→ Spices & Herbs

13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
17 - 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic and mushrooms. Cook for another 5 minutes, allowing mushrooms to release their moisture and reduce in size.
03 - Add potato, zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes with juice. Stir to combine thoroughly.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and add pearl barley, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well to incorporate all ingredients.
05 - Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until barley and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours cooking when you really only spent an hour, making it perfect for weeknight victories.
  • The barley absorbs all the savory broth flavors, creating a naturally creamy texture without any cream.
  • Mushrooms give it an umami depth that makes even meat-eaters forget what they're missing.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the barley—cloudy water means starch, and starch means a murky soup instead of a clear, appetizing one.
  • If your mushrooms are small or lightweight, don't feel shy about adding an extra handful; they shrink dramatically and adding more depth never hurts.
03 -
  • Brown the mushrooms in batches if your pot is crowded; they release better moisture and develop better flavor when they're not steaming each other.
  • Add the barley to the pot before bringing to a boil; this helps it cook evenly and prevents some grains from being tender while others are still hard.
Go Back