Vegan Barley Soup

This terrific vegan barley soup combines plenty of veggies, barley, and a flavorful thick broth made with blended chickpeas and herbs. It's deliciously brothy, nourishing, and healthy.

The recipe yields to 6 cups.

Prep Time10

Cook Time3 30

Total Time40

Course: Soup

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: Vegan barley soup

Servings:

Calories: 217kcal

Author: Katia

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
2 medium-sized carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon paprika
1 cup (180 grams) pearled barley
1 can chickpeas, blended
4 ½ cup liter 1.1 low-sodium vegetable broth, or more if needed
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
¾ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 oz (120 grams) fresh spinach
½ lemon juice, or more to taste

Instructions

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery, and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, paprika, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Meanwhile, add one can of chickpeas (including their liquid) to a blender or food processor. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender. Whizz until smooth.
Add the pureed chickpeas, broth, barley, dried herbs, and seasoning to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer; cook covered with a lid for about 20 minutes. After this time, check the barley for doneness. It should be tender but still chewy to the bite and not too soft or mushy.
In the last few minute of cooking time, stir in the fresh spinach, and cook for a couple of minutes just until wilted.
Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice, and season to taste if needed. Add a touch of broth if you prefer a thinner consistency. Serve it with crusty bread, more freshly ground black pepper, and shaved parmesan (if you don't keep it vegan). Enjoy!

Notes

Note: Barley will absorb the broth when left sitting in a pot after cooking. You might need to add more water or broth when reheating it. If the pot is still hot or warm, barley will keep cooking and lose its chewy texture.

Nutrition facts: The nutrition values are for one serving and are based on an online nutrition calculator. They are estimates only and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.

Nutrition