Description

A comforting soup made with pearl barley, vegetables, and fresh herbs. Brightened with lemon juice and finished with spinach, it offers a light and satisfying flavor. This wholesome dish is perfect for a nourishing and balanced meal.

barley soup
Credit: JoannaTkaczuk
Level: Easy Prep: 30 minutes Yield: 1 servings
Total: 20 minutes Inactive:  Serving Size: # oz|lbs|pieces

Ingredients

  •  2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup chopped fresh dill leaves and stalks
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 cup/6 ounces pearl barley
  •  6 cups vegetable stock
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 large lemon), plus extra wedges to serve
  • 2 ounces baby spinach
  • Greek yogurt, coconut yogurt or crème fraîche, to serve

Directions

  1.  Heat a large pot over medium-high. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil along with the onion and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes.
  2.  Add the garlic, celery, half the dill and ½ teaspoon salt and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
  3.  Add the pearl barley and stock and bring to the boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the barley is swollen and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.
  5.  Stir in the spinach and ladle the soup into bowls. Top with a dollop of yogurt and the remaining dill and drizzle generously with oil.
 

Nutrition Facts

1 servings per recipe
Serving size: 1 oz
Calories 256.3 per serving

Contents % Daily Value
Total Fat 8 g 12%
   
Saturated Fat .9g 5%
Trans Fat 0g  
Cholesterol 1.3mg 0%
Sodium 1016.7mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 41.5mg 14%
Dietary Fiber 7.7g 31%
Total Sugars 4.4g  
   
Protein 6.6g 13%
Vitamin A 8%mcg  
Vitamin C 23%mg  
Calcium 6%mg  
Iron 10%mg  
   
The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
 
Jeyakumar, Angeline, Gastelum, A., Shaw, W. 2026, Mediterranean Diet: Lemony Pearl Barley Soup, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Recipes

Learn more about the author(s)

Angeline Jeyakumar
Angeline Jeyakumar
 

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