Nourishing and full of lively flavour --mushroom and barley soup. I love the plump little pearls of barley and the nutty flavour of sauteed mushrooms. I decided to add some spicy Italian sausage; you may omit if desired.
Ingredients
3/4 cup pearl barley, cooked = 3 cups cooked
1 lb mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 onion, small diced
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
bay leaf
2 tsp dried thyme
2 carrots, small diced
2 celery stalks, small diced
16 oz Italian sausage, mild
1.5 oz sherry
6-8 cups chicken stock
10 oz evaporated milk. divided
4 tbsp cornstarch
tt nutmeg
basil or fresh herb
tt salt and pepper
Instructions
See Susie's Tips and Tricks below
1. Prepare barley per package instructions. (See notes.)
2. In a large wide mouth pot add a drizzle of oil into a medium-heated pan. Add mushrooms and let cook. Don't add salt yet. You want them to caramelize a bit. After 5 minutes or so add onions, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, carrots, and celery.
If desired, include Italian sausage; crumble and break into small pieces and let cook.
3. Add sherry and let cook off. Now add 6 cups chicken stock and half of the evaporated milk and warm to a simmer.
4. Mix cornstarch and remaining evaporated milk together. Now add to the lightly simmering stock and let thicken. (If you used more stock--add 3 more tbsp cornstarch.)
5. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
Susie's Tips and Tricks
You can prepare your barley in a pressure cooker if desired. My Instantpot suggested 20 minutes and NPR. Don't forget a bit of oil for froth. There is a quick-cooking barley that is ready is 10 minutes, available at Trader Joe's.
I used white button mushrooms, use cremini if you prefer. Use 1/2 lb more if you like them.
Be sure and dice your carrots and celery in small diced pieces (1/4"). Larger pieces take much longer to cook.
Omit the Italian sausage if you prefer a vegetarian meal. Increase the carrots and celery.
Use another wine if you desired. I like the flavour of Sherry for this soup.
Once you add the cornstarch you want it to thicken on medium heat. Don't bring it to a boil.
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