- Prep all ingredients
- Make soup
- Heat up bread (optional)
Chicken barley soup
This soup has so much flavor because you brown the chicken and vegetables first. But it is still a quick recipe because the barley only takes 30 minutes to cook! Make sure the skin on your chicken is minimal so your soup doesn't come out too oily.
| Servings: people USA imperial/metric conversion: |
Print Recipe
|
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 chicken bottoms bones in and skin on
- 2 red onions cut in half
- 8 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger cut into one large chunk
- 2 carrots peeled, cut in half
- 2 tomatoes cut in half
- 1/2 butternut squash peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala spice blend
- 2 tablespoons salt pink Himalayan
- 2 stalks lemongrass cut in half (optional)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped, stems included (optional)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil finely chopped
- 1/2 cup barley
Directions:
- Prepare a large pot on high heat. Add the olive oil and get hot. Add the chicken and let brown for 8 minutes, mixing periodically.
- Add the onions, garlic, ginger, carrots and tomatoes. Mix and let cook 5 more minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (including the barley) and 5 cups of water. Cook on medium-high for at least 1 hour but up to 3 hours.
- Remove chicken bones, lemongrass stalks and chunk of ginger if you would like.
- Serve hot with toasted bread. Salt to taste.
Notes & Tips:
Feel free to add or subtract your own vegetables like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, celery and zucchini. My favorite part of this soup is that everything is in big pieces so prep is very quick.
Have a question about these recipes? Need a substitution for an ingredient? Chef Zissie is here to answer!
Simply use the comments box at the bottom of this page or click the button below. Please try and ask on Sunday to ensure you get your answer on time!
Leftover tips for tomorrow’s lunch:
This soup reheats beautifully and will be even thicker the next day! Add fresh basil, mint or cilantro right before you serve for a fresh new flavor!
Not a cilantro fan, what should I substitute with?
You don’t need to replace it with anything, the fresh basil will be enough and it will be delicious without the cilantro! In all my recipes where it says cilantro, you can always add fresh basil and or some mint but if they are already in the recipe then just leave out the cilantro. Enjoy!
What could I replace the barley with for a gluten free diet?
Quinoa, small red lentils, rice