Tomato Vegetable Barley Soup

Featuring common ingredients like potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery, this tomato vegetable barley soup recipe is nothing fancy, but so comforting and satisfying. It’s also quite filling, and a good choice for soup-and-salad or soup-and-sandwich meals with lighter accompaniments.

Tips for a great barley soup meal and beyond

Complete the meal: Since this is at heart a tomato soup, a simple vegan grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect partner. Another great idea: serve with our Vegan Jalapeño Cornbread as shown here. For a heartier yet still simple meal, serve with veggie burgers and a tossed salad.

Fresh dill tip: Kids (and picky eaters of all ages) just might go for this soup, but may not appreciate the strong flavor of fresh dill. If that’s the case, pass around a small bowl of chopped fresh dill to stir into individual portions of soup as well as using it as a garnish.

It thickens as it stands: A nice bonus is that barley soup thickens as it stands, giving you even more servings from the initial batch. That makes it a real bargain!

Simply thin it with a bit of water (though you want to keep a nice thick consistency) and add a bit more seasoning to your taste. Additional dill never hurts, either.

Freezing leftovers: If you end up with too much soup, this freezes quite well. Simply store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.

A bit about barley

Barley is one of the most ancient of cultivated grains, is most commonly available in the pearl variety. This is the kind you’ll find in supermarkets.

Searching a bit further afield, you might find pot barley in natural foods stores and food co-ops. Pot barley is less refined, retaining more of the natural fiber and bran.

Both kinds are mild-tasting, pleasantly chewy, and versatile. Learn lots more about this versatile grain in this site’s Guide to Barley.

Recipe adapted from The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.

Explore more …

• Mixed Mushroom-Barley Soup (with a Farro Variation)
• Mushroom-Barley Pilaf with Peas and Carrots
• Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

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Yield: 8 or more

Tomato-Barley Vegetable Soup

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Featuring common ingredients like potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery, this tomatoey barley vegetable soup is comforting and satisfying.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
• 1 cup pearl or pot barley, rinsed
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 large or 2 medium potatoes, scrubbed (if organic) or peeled and diced
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced, with leaves
• 8 cups water
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning blend (like Mrs. Dash or Spike)
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill or parsley, or a combination plus more for garnish (see note)

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over low heat until golden. 
2. Add the garlic, barley, carrots, potato, celery, and water. Bring to a slow boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the seasoning, paprika, and crushed tomatoes. Continue to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the barley and vegetables are done. 
4. Adjust the consistency with more water as and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the fresh herb of choice and serve.

Notes

This soup will thicken considerably as it stands, especially refrigerated leftovers. Adjust the liquid and seasonings as needed, but allow the soup to remain thick.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 142Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 109mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 4g

Nutrition data is always an estimate depending on program used to calculate and exact products used. This is given for informational purposes only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

See lots more easy vegan soups & stews.