Tomato and Barley Soup

"I have adapted this recipe from one that I found on allrecipes.com by Nancy Olsen. It is so healthy, Weight Watcher friendly and tastes great. You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth if you want vegetarian."
 
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photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by Annina S. photo by Annina S.
photo by NoraMarie photo by NoraMarie
photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
photo by DianaEatingRichly photo by DianaEatingRichly
Ready In:
1hr 10mins
Ingredients:
11
Serves:
6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
  • Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Saute for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are starting to soften.
  • While they are cooking pour the barley into a dish with water to cover.
  • Add the tomatoes, broth, water, bay leaf, and pepper and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Drain the barley and add to the pot.
  • Reduce heat and cook at a low boil for about 45 minutes (until the barley is tender).
  • Add more water or broth if it thickens too much.

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Reviews

  1. We are big fans of barley soups and this is a very good barley soup. It was very filling and warming which was perfect for a cold almost summer's night in London. The only changes I made were to go for the vegetable stock because it was what I had and to skip the oil and use a cooking spray instead to lower the fat of the soup to next to nothing. Made for ZWT4.
     
  2. This is a pretty good soup. The only thing I added was about a half pound of cooked lean ground beef and some kitchen bouquet for a more brown color. The only thing I wasn't real fond of was that it did have a bit of an acidic taste to it that I kept trying to correct...I wondered if it had a potato or two in it if the flavors would have been blended more. Made for ZWT #6 - 2010
     
  3. Very good basic barley tomato soup. I make it regularly. I often add more tomatos, barley or peppers, kale, spinach, chicken, beef,whatever moves me.I regularly change up the spicing, adding oregano, basil, sage, whatever I grab out of the spice cupboard.This recipe never fails me, whatever I add or delete it always turns out.
     
  4. Very good recipe just as it is, and also lends itself well to using up other orphaned produce in the fridge, or odds and ends in the freezer, cupboard or pantry. It's hearty, warming, and inviting, and has a greatly satisfying texture and consistency. Last night, I'd added some diced red & green bell peppers and finely chopped baby spinach. If sodium isn't an issue for someone, a bouillon cube adds a flavor boost, as does 1/2 tsp. of crushed Italian seasoning. It's tasty with Middle Eastern spices added or great with curry powder or curry paste added for a more exotic faux Mulligatawny variation. Your favorite salsa, picante sauce, a small can of green chilies, or Southwest-style diced tomatoes can change it up easily for a different twist on it, with a handful of crushed tortilla chips or even a few Fritos also tossed into it. Wonderful way to use up any leftover roasted or rotisserie chicken too. Beans, lentils, and peas work great in it also, and when I'm feeling particularly decadent, I quarter 2 hotdog-sized Polska kielbasa sausage links length-wise, and then dice the quarters into small pieces, to give it a hint of rich sausage flavor. Diced leftover Italian sausage or meatballs work well in it, also. It's hard to go wrong with this soup, since the recipe is both so good and also extremely versatile, so it can be made often and enjoyed in a variety of ways.
     
  5. Thank you for posting this! I was looking for inspiration on how to use up my barley and get my kids to like it in the process. I couldn't follow the recipe to a t, as i was almost out of celery, but it still turned out very well. I think this is a great basic recipe that can me adapted any way you like. Two of my kids did not like it (they are picky eaters, judging food before even tasting it, drives me crazy sometimes). But both my oldest and my husband asked me to make this again. And best of all: my almost 15 month old daughter, who is 99% breastfed because she refuses most food, gobbled this up! She has never before eaten like this and I might even get a good night's sleep out of that full tummy of hers! And thanks to two of her brothers not eating any, we have leftovers she can feast on tomorrow :-D
     
    • Review photo by Annina S.
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Tweaks

  1. Just needed some salt added. I also topped with fresh parsley.
     

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<p>I am a born and raised prairie girl, living in Saskatchewan, Canada for most of my life. My husband and I have 3 grown sons and 2 dil's. We have one grandson and wait the arrival of our second grandchild soon. I am retired and loving it.?I like to cook (especially when someone else does the dishes) and love to try new recipes. RecipeZaar has become an important part of my life (judging by the amount of time I spend here)! Life is good!! <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Holiday-plaid_HPI.gif alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/Animation6.gif alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/participantbannerzwt5.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/79877/hkbanknives.jpg alt= /> <br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Participation.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/flower753/Food/my3chefsnov2008.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m445/mliss29/vegnswap3/group06grape.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m445/mliss29/vegnswap1/group13strawberry.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%204/ZWTAB-tg.gif alt= /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PAC08Main.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/peacefulnightdove/stpatchallenge.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><br />src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/200_PACpic.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket> <br /><br /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%203/ZWT3-Participation.gif alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Adopted1smp.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /> <br /><br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/smPACp.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/j_welcome/pics2/food/PRMRcopy.jpg alt= /> <br /><br />><img src=http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4902/41213577264b44m3kh4.png border=0 alt=Banner made with BannerFans.com, hosted on ImageShack.us width=328 height=90 /></p>
 
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