Bistro Lentil Barley Soup Recipes

BARLEY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In large saucepan or soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, carrot, celery, thyme, marjoram and pepper until onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add stock, water, lentils and barley to the pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until barley and lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
• Stir in chopped parsley before serving.
• To serve, top each serving with a dollop of yogurt. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley.

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.

BARLEY, LENTIL AND MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion; cook and stir until onions are limp, but not brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in the celery and carrot; cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the barley and lentils so they are coated with oil, continue to cook and stir until lightly toasted.
• Pour in the beef broth and season with thyme, parsley, pepper and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add the porcini mushrooms, cover and simmer for 25 minutes over low heat. Add the button mushroom, cover and continue cooking for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in sherry during the last 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving.

RED LENTIL AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.
• Cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients to saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 1 hour.
• Remove and discard bay leaves before serving.

LENTIL SOUP WITH BEEF AND BARLEY

Steps:

• In large, heavy pot, brown beef lightly.
• Drain off fat.
• Add lentils, barley, water or stock, and beef broth.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until lentils and barley are nearly tender (about half an hour).
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer about 1 1/2 hours.
• Add extra liquid to give thickness desired.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley, if desired.