Deb’s Mushroom & Barley Soup
Nothing is more comforting than coming home to this rich soup! I prepare the ingredients the night before and start the slow cooker on my way out the door in the morning. —Debra Kamerman, New York, New York
Ingredients
- 1 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms
- 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup medium pearl barley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 5 cups water
- 4 cups beef stock
- 3 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 pound ground turkey
Reviews
Does anyone know if this can be made in a pressure cooker?
I made this last night, but did not use a crock pot. I used a 6 qt electric roaster instead and cooked it on low for almost 4 hrs. Followed the recipe for the most part. Added spices (Oregano, 21 salute trader joes, and fresh tarragon chopped) to the turkey balls and used fresh thyme. I also added chili flakes and two cloves of fresh garlic to spice it up. It turned out great. Very rich and delicious! Will make it again, will probably try very lean hamburger for the meatballs next time just to see how that works, and I would cut back on the salt and not use more that 2 tsp total.
Made a bit smaller in quantity (except same amount of turkey)
I make a variety of soups and this is now my husband's favorite. I made no changes or substitutions except to use no-salt-added beef stock (Swanson’s 32 Oz. box). I seasoned with just a tiny bit of additional salt after I added the turkey. That’s only because I’m hyper sensitive to salt for some reason. I can’t eat canned soup or restaurant soup for that reason. This soup is full of flavor as is. And the best part is that it freezes well. The barley holds up unlike a noodle or rice soup. I was concerned that the mushrooms wouldn't freeze well....but they were great. Next time I think I’ll add some slight seasoning to the meatballs and I’ll use a few sprigs of fresh thyme....also some chili flakes for a little heat. I’m a diabetic and the barley adds the substance of a starch without spiking my blood glucose levels like rice or noodles. Thanks Deb. This is a winner for us in many ways.
Delicious filling soup very flavorful