This delicious and simple veggie-packed soup is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but is versatile enough that you can tweak it to make it your own by adding beans, meat or more vegetables.
I love fall in North Carolina. Or recipes that make me fondly remember fall and fill my belly with warm goodness.
I also love working out outside in the fall. Isn’t it glorious?
I always love Jen’s workouts, and this Total Body Blast is easy to modify.
If you are outside, try subbing push-ups for push presses, regular sit ups for the medicine ball variety and a half mile loop for the 400 meter incline run. And whew, those step ups are no joke!
Side note: this water-resistant blanket is great to keep in the car at all times. It comes in so handy!
The only downside to spending as much time outside as possible is that it means less time in the kitchen. That’s one of the many reasons I love making soup: leftovers that are easy to reheat and eat.
There is something so comforting about soup and this homemade vegetable barley is no exception.
The thing I love about soup is that it’s forgiving. Add or subtract almost anything and it will still be delicious. This recipe is my basic go-to, though I often switch it up depending on which vegetables I have at a given time.
- You can omit the barley if you are gluten-free or sub brown rice if you’d rather.
- You can use frozen veggies to virtually eliminate prep time.
- You can add some cayenne to give it a kick.
- You can add chicken, beef or beans for more protein.
- You can use whatever vegetables you need to use up in the fridge.
- You can add a splash of white wine vinegar at the end to punch up the flavor.
OK, you get the point. The soup is versatile.
[Tweet “Vegetable barley soup (with easy substitution options!)”]
I recommend making it before the week begins to have for lunch everyday because mmm, the flavor just keeps gets better!
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Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Yield: serves 4-6 1x
Description
This simple soup is hearty,comforting and a tasty way to pack a lot of vegetables in at one meal.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 sweet potato, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 cup cut green beans
- 1/3 cup barley
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tsp basil
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sweet potato and saute for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and onion and saute for an additional 3 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and let cook for 45 minutes to one hour, until the barley is soft and ready to eat.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with a hearty bread.
See also:
Tiff says
This is my kind of soup, yum!! Side note, that’s a cool looking park. E would love it; there’s no mulch for him to try and eat. Ha
Brynn says
Soup is the most forgiving meal for sure! I made a few different soups and stocked my freezer when I was pregnant. Now that my son is here we are living off of that stash. One week olds are unpredictable so soup is such an awesome option!
Brittany Dixon says
Ah- one week old! Congratulations 🙂 And heck yes, yay for freezer stashes!
Marjorie says
We are flirting with fall here too. We have had some really awesome days, and some still warm days. Pretty typical for Alabama. I never know how to dress my son.
I’ve got two leftover soups in my fridge right now! Vegetable beef (made with leftover pot roast) and then I’ve also got lasagna soup. And they do all get better as the days go on. 🙂 I’ve been eating soup for lunch.
Katina-Marie says
What a great blanket! Practical and cute- can’t beat that! And that soup looks delish!
Here in Canada it is Fall! The leaves are falling along with the temperature.. so much for an Indian summer! 😉
Kaitlyn @Keeping up with Kaitlyn says
Yum! I love your soup recipes! I’m making chicken taco soup tonight, but this is going on the menu for next week!!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I am craving fall weather! It’s been in the 90’s here for the last week and is expected to continue through next week. Give me cold weather!! I want to wear boots! 🙂
Carrie (This Fit Chick) says
The soup looks like it came straight out of a magazine!! how delicious! If only the weather here permitted warm soup 😛
Laura @FitMamaLove says
Yum! I love soup and love the texture of barley. It is close to 100 degrees here lately, so nothing like fall and definitely not soup weather. I crave soup so often, though, and it’s one of my favorite things to make.
Brittany Dixon says
Yes, I love the chewy texture of barley too! 100 degrees is no joke. Sending some cool breezes your way!
Alex says
It is definitely starting to feel like fall around here too! I love the cooler temps! Scarves all around.
Another delicious looking soup. I totally agree. Soup is almost infallible and you. Can tweak recipes here and there for a slightly different variety each time!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
I’m so jealous of that 70 degree weather!!! I am def on the soup train.. LOVE the looks of this one.. maybe I could sub quinoa?
Brittany Dixon says
I’ve never tried quinoa is soup! If it works for you, report back please 🙂
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
Fall is definitely flirting with us here in Colorado! There’s already snow in the mountains and it gets pretty cold at night. But we’re still having pretty warm days here in Denver. High 70s today.
I’ve been on the soup train for about a month. We do soup & salad for dinner every Monday night. Last night we made this amazing corn & cod chowder!
Sarah@creatingbettertomorrow says
Yep – feels like fall her e in IN and I am definitely on the soup train because they are so easy healthy and good wen in the crockpot ESCPECIALLY with the twins – tonight it is root veggies in with chicken and rice…no recipe just mom trying to keep us fed 🙂
Joni says
Where is that awesome park? I know you live just a bit north of my neck of the woods and my daughter is just hitting the age where a playground would be so much fun!
Brittany Dixon says
I’ll email you 🙂
Dale says
Could you email me too? We live in Charlotte and my kids would LOVE a park like that! Thanks!
Liz says
Me too please
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I LOVE barley so I am super excited to try this recipe. Thanks Brittany! 🙂
Danica @ It's Progression says
I love that about soup and chili, too. It’s fool-proof!
Urban Wife says
Yum, barley soup! Last time I made some, my husband kind of sort of boycotted dinner. Whop whop. 😉 I’ll just have to make a batch for myself! Fall is definitely not here yet in central Texas. We had a few cooler days but it was all just a giant tease.
Caitlin says
Yummm this looks awesome! Will definitely make this very soon, hubs loves veggie soups. Also- it’s nice (I don’t mean “nice” but you know) to see you posted about the dreaded car nap and your schedule was a little off… See so many blog post where the third days are just way too picture perfect! It also makes me feel little better knowing there’s other moms whose days go array :oP even to you supermom!
Joanna @Makingmine says
Oh car naps are the worst – I haven’t figured out a way to avoid them though, haha!
That soup looks amazing! I have tomato soup in the crockpot for tonight, but I night have to give this one a try later this week!
Lauren Brennan says
Yum! Looks delicious!
We have had a major heat wave where I live in CA, with it being 95 degrees over the weekend!! That’s one of the hottest days of the year… And it’s October. Boo. So while Pinterest is full of pumpkin recipes and fall decor and cute sweaters, I am only dreaming of Fall while sporting my shorts. Hopefully it will come soon. But I really shouldn’t complain because we usually have gorgeous and mild weather year-round. It’s just that this is my FAVORITE month of the year and I feel a little cheated out of it!
Alison says
I made this soup over the weekend. It is the best vegetable soup I’ve ever had! I changed the diced tomatoes to a very large can of crushed tomatoes ( that’s all I had). It was so delicious!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh this makes me so happy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Love the idea of crushed tomatoes too!
★★★★★
Hadara Zemel says
Very delicious soup. My husband doesn’t like soups that are heavy on the tomato flavor but this was perfect. ANd it came together really fast. This one’s going into my rotation!
★★★★
dax says
What ounce can is the “1 can diced tomatoes?”
Brittany Dixon says
14.5 ounces
Yokoshino says
Thank you – this soup sustained me after gallbladder surgery and one day later, the flu! Easy to make, vegan, delicious, and nourishing. I could store it in the refrigerator in individual containers and heat for lunch and dinner. It was very satisfying and filling. I added a little extra barley for nutrition.
Brittany Dixon says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback and I hope you fully recover soon!
Heather Cash says
This was everything I hoped it would be. Thank you for such an awesome recipe. The whole family loved it.
★★★★★