Chicken and Barley Soup

You’ll Love This Chicken and Barley Soup

Ingredients:

• 🍗 500g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, diced
• 🧅 1 large onion, chopped
• 🥕 2 carrots, diced
• 🌾 1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed
• 🥔 2 medium potatoes, cubed
• 🌿 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 🥛 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 🥄 1 tsp dried thyme
• 🥄 1 tsp dried oregano
• 🌶️ 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 🧂 Salt to taste
• 🧈 2 tbsp olive oil
• 🌱 Fresh parsley for garnish

Preparation Time:

• Prep: ⏱️ 15 minutes
• Cooking: ⏱️ 1 hour
• Total: ⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes

Instructions:

1. Cook the chicken:
   🧈 Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté the aromatics:
   🧄 Step 2: In the same pot, sauté the onion, garlic, celery, and carrots for 4-5 minutes until softened.
3. Add vegetables, barley, and seasonings:
   🥕 Step 3: Add the potatoes, pearl barley, thyme, oregano, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Simmer the soup:
   🥣 Step 4: Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 45-50 minutes, or until the barley and vegetables are tender.
5. Check the seasoning:
   🍲 Step 5: Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
6. Serve:
   🍵 Step 6: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.

Hearty and Flavorful!

This chicken and barley soup is perfect for a cozy meal on a chilly day. Pair with a slice of whole-grain bread for a satisfying meal.