Skip to main content

Barley Lentil Soup

One-pot hearty and comforting soup that’s packed with veggies, herbs and grains!
Cooking for a Crowd

Cooking for a Crowd

Use these recipe sheets to prepare for larger groups:

Bowls of soup containing colorful vegetables, lentils and barley.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 and ½ hours
Makes: 10 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup sliced carrot
1 cup sliced celery
1 can (15 ounces) stewed or diced tomatoes, with juice
3 cups low-sodium broth, any type (see Notes)
3 cups water
1 cup dry lentils
⅔ cup pearl barley (see Notes)
½ teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. In a large sauce pan or soup pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir for about 1 minute. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a light simmer. Place a lid on the pan.
  5. Cook until the barley and lentils are tender, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Serve hot.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • No broth? Use 1 teaspoon or 1 cube bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water for each cup of broth.
  • Use any fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables you have on hand.
  • No basil, oregano or thyme? Try chopped cilantro.
  • Pearl barley is high in fiber but is not a whole grain. If using whole grain barley (also called hulled barley), it may take longer for the barley to soften.
  • This recipe can be made in a 5-quart or larger slow cooker for extra convenience. Put all ingredients except the oil into the cooker, cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours. If possible, cook on HIGH for 30 to 60 minutes, then turn to LOW for 7 to 8 hours.

Comments

I made this as directed, omitting salt.  Fantastic. A keeper.

I made this soup for a tasting at a farmer's market and it got rave reviews. I also made it at home, and my adult son, who is a DIE HARD carnivore, loved it.  It's great when I can sneak in a vegetarian meal that is so tasty and filling. 

I made this barley lentil soup and added some quinoa and more veggies corn, potatoes, peas, green beans and zucchini. Delisioso!!!

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Barley Summer Salad
A clear bowl displays a colorful salad of cooked barley, blueberries and crunchy vegetables.

Barley Summer Salad

Make-ahead fresh and flavorful salad that is hearty and filling.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
8 Cups
Sikil Pak (Mayan Pumpkin Seed Dip)
bowl of dip with vegetables

Sikil Pak (Mayan Pumpkin Seed Dip)

Enjoy this Mayan-inspired dip with fresh veggies or whole-grain chips.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
1 ½ cups
Microwave Fresh Vegetables
Glass containers with potatoes, carrots, broccoli and green beans.

Microwave Fresh Vegetables

Steam-cooking fresh vegetables in the microwave is an easy way to make a healthy side dish for lunch or dinner in just minutes. The short cooking time preserves nutrients, color and flavor.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
High Protein Banana Split
Small bowls of yogurt topped with a cereal and a colorful fruit combination.

High Protein Banana Split

A fun breakfast or snack recipe. Bananas topped with Greek yogurt, cereal, fruit, and honey.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 servings
Wheat Berry Salad
Bowl of wheat berries with a colorful vegetable mix.

Wheat Berry Salad

Whole grains and fresh vegetables make this salad filling and satisfying.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
60 minutes
Makes:
6 Cups
Asparagus Mushroom Melt
English muffins topped with chopped asparagus, mushrooms and broiled cheese are shown on plates.

Asparagus Mushroom Melt

English muffins topped with fresh veggies and cheese make this a flavorful meal or snack.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
8 muffin halves
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.