Creamy Barley Soup

Last week was my daughter's birthday (hence the flowers) and I was planning to do something special for her. I decided to make pancakes for breakfast and make one of her favourite soups that she hadn't had for a while for dinner: Creamy Barley Soup. Somewhat of a light dinner, because we planned on having lots of cake. Who can say no to tiramisu? :)

Anyways, I decided to share my version of this soup, which is a popular persian dish and I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup pearl barley
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 ½ cup fresh thinly sliced button mushrooms
• 2 thinly sliced mushrooms for garnish
• 8 cups water 
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro for garnish
• 3 Cherry tomatoes for garnish
• ½ Lemon
• Chilli pepper flakes for garnish (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Sauce:

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk

*or 2 cups cream as a substitute for the sauce

Directions:

1. Soak barley overnight or for at least four hours in cold water. Drain.
2. Heat oil in a nonstick pot.
3. Sauté until tender, not colored: about three minutes.
4. Add barley and stir until water evaporates.
5. Add water, then cover with lid, and cook for about 20 minutes.
6. Add beef and chicken broth, salt and pepper, and cook for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
7. Add sliced mushrooms and chopped cilantro and cook for 10 minutes.
8. Prepare Sauce. (directions below)
9. Add the sauce or *(2 cups of cream) slowly into the soup and continue stirring. 
10. Cook for five more minutes, Stirring occasionally.
11. Add more milk or water, depending on the thickness you desire.
12. Add lemon juice, stir, then turn off the heat.
13. On high heat, melt 1 tbsp butter on a pan, add the sliced mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, give it a quick stir for a few seconds and remove.
14. Use them as garnish on the soup along with cilantro and chilli pepper flakes.
15. Serve and enjoy

For the sauce:

1. Melt butter in a medium nonstick pot.
2. Add flour to melted butter and combine until you make a paste.
3. Continuously stir on low heat for about three minutes.
4. Add milk and stir until smooth.

Serves: 4-6 Overall Time: Approx 60 mins

Since I've been getting requests to give out the recipes in Farsi as well, I will be posting a farsi version of these recipes on to my Facebook page in the near future.

xx

Chehr