Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (2024)

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Simple and delicious mushroom barley soup is low in fat, but rich in flavour. With only 6 ingredients required this earthy, umami, bowl of goodness is a must try. Plus, I’ve got directions for both stove top or your hands off Instant Pot.

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (1)

This recipe was originally published in December 2019. It has been updated for content and photos.

Mushrooms are high up on the list of my favourite foods and if you love mushrooms like I do, you’re going to LOVE this soup.

Just like my mushroom veloute, risotto stuffed mushrooms and air fryer mushrooms, this mushroom barley soup is absolutely bursting with umami flavour.

PS. If you’re a big soup fan, check out this collection of the BEST vegan soup recipes.

Why you’ll love it

  1. Filling, flavourful and easy to make! Plus a hands off Instant Pot option.
  2. Just 6 ingredients needed, with simple prep.
  3. Surprisingly healthy! Barley is an excellent source of fiber and B group vitamins. As an added bonus, barley is filling, yet low in calories to keep you feeling full longer.
Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (2)

How to make it

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Gather your ingredients: butter (optional), mushrooms, pot barley, garlic, shallots, and vegetable broth.

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (3)

Melt the butter (if using) and add the sliced mushrooms, shallots and garlic to your pot and sauté until reduced. (photos 1-2)

Then add the broth and barley and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook until the barley is tender, approx. 40-45 minutes. (photos 3-4)

NOTE: Keep the lid on your pot, but slightly askew. Don’t cook without the lid, or too much of the broth will evaporate.

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (4)

Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Then serve your mushroom barley soup sprinkled with fresh parsley, chives, red pepper flakes or vegan parmesan cheese.

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (5)

FAQs

What’s the difference between pot barley and pearl barley?

Pot barley has only the outermost, inedible husk removed. Pearl barley is more refined with the husk removed and then polished, which strips some of its nutrition.

Can I use pearl barley instead of pot barley?

You may, but it cooks faster, so reduce cook time to approx. 25-30 minutes for stove top and 20 minutes for Instant Pot.

Can I make this gluten free?

Barley is not gluten free, so if you need a gluten free option, you may sub for quinoa, reducing the cook time to about 12-15 minutes. Or you may replace the barley with brown rice keeping cook time the same.

How long does it keep?

Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. Since the barley will continue to absorb some broth as it sits, you may need to add a splash more when reheating.

Can I freeze it?

Yes, this soup freezes very well. Use a freezer safe, air tight container and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on stove top, adding more broth, if needed.

Expert Tips

  • Cook your soup with the lid on but slightly askew. Cooking without the lid will cause too much of the broth to evaporate. Barley has a long cook time, so it will appear like a lot of liquid at first, but the barley will absorb more and more as it cooks.
  • For no oil, use water or broth to sauté the veggies.
  • If time permits, you may add more veggies to the sauté step. Chopped carrots and celery would make great additions. Or add some baby spinach to the very end of cooking, if desired.

More healthy soups

  • Healthy Broccoli Potato Soup
  • Slow Cooker Vegetable Pot Pie Stew
  • Thai Peanut Chickpea Soup
  • Potato Leek Soup
  • Veggie Soup with Quinoa
  • Pasta e fa*gioli

If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

Buon appetito,
Rosa

📖 Recipe

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (6)

Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top]

Simply delicious mushroom barley soup is low in fat, but rich in flavour. With 6 ingredients required, this umami earthy soup is a must try.

4.98 from 45 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 154cal

Author: Rosa

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegan butter or margarine skip for oil free and saute in water or broth instead
  • 2 shallots finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms sliced
  • 1 cup pot barley or hulled barley
  • 8 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • salt + pepper to taste

Instructions

Stove Top Instructions

  • Melt the butter, if using, in a medium pot. Then add the shallots, garlic, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté until reduced, approx. 5-6 minutes, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

  • Add the broth and barley, and bring to a boil with the lid on your pot, but slightly askew. Cook over medium/high heat until the barley is tender, approx. 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Once cooked, add a little more salt and pepper, if needed, and serve garnished with fresh parsley or red pepper flakes, if desired.

Instant Pot Instructions

  • Set your Instant Pot to the sauté function and add the butter to melt, if using. Add the shallots, garlic and sliced mushrooms and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Sauté until reduced, approx. 5-6 minutes.

  • Add the broth and the barley and close the lid. Make sure you set the valve to the sealing position and set to high pressure for 22 minutes. It will take about 10-15 minutes to build pressure and begin counting down.

  • Once the timer is complete, quick release the steam valve and open the lid once safe to do so. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed and serve garnished with fresh parsley or red pepper flakes.

Notes

Cook your soup with the lid on but slightly askew. Cooking without the lid will cause too much of the broth to evaporate. Barley has a long cook time, so it will appear like a lot of liquid at first, but the barley will absorb more and more as it cooks.

For no oil, use water or broth to sauté the veggies.

If time permits, you may add more veggies to the sauté step. Chopped carrots and celery would make great additions. Or add some baby spinach to the very end of cooking, if desired.

Leftovers keep refrigerated for 3-4 days, or you may freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 154cal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 335mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 3mg

    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Mention @this.healthy.kitchen on IG and tag #thishealthykitchen!

    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.

    More Vegan Dishes for your Main Course

    • Gluten-Free Tofu Hot Dogs
    • Broccoli Asparagus Pasta
    • Easy Soy Curl Stir Fry
    • Vegan Cauliflower Recipes You Have to Try!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Catherine M

      Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (12)
      Made this for my lunches this week; I’m sure if my soup mugs weren’t so massive I’d have got 6 Portia s but ended up with 5 belly busting portions of delicious vegan soup

      Reply

      • Rosa

        Thanks for the review, Catherine. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply

    2. Tammy

      Hi Rosa! Thank you for sharing this! Can this be made in a slow cooker as well?
      Thank you!

      Reply

      • Rosa

        Hi Tammy, while I haven’t tried that, I’m sure it could be done. I’d try for 4-6 hours on low setting and check on it. You might need extra liquid as the barley absorbs the broth. Please report back if you try it.

        Reply

    3. Sara Mayer

      Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (13)
      Yummy! Made this today for meatless Monday. I didn’t have shallots so I used a regular white onion. Added the carrots and celery too- it was delicious!

      Reply

      • Rosa

        Thrilled you enjoyed Sara! 🙂

        Reply

      • Bev

        Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (14)
        This is outstanding. I noticed the barley really soaks up the broth though so next time I’ll cook separate and add it to the bowls. I can eat this without barley as I’m avoiding carbs.

        Reply

        • Rosa

          Thrilled you enjoyed it! 🙂

          Reply

    « Older Comments

    Mushroom Barley Soup [Instant Pot or Stove Top] - This Healthy Kitchen (2024)

    FAQs

    What does mushroom soup do to your body? ›

    Support a healthy immune system. Mushrooms contain macronutrients that support a healthy immune system. According to the Mushroom Council, your immune system will benefit from mushrooms whose nutrients include: Selenium, which helps your body make antioxidant enzymes to prevent cell damage.

    Which is better for soup pearl barley or pot barley? ›

    Pearl barley is more refined, being both husked and polished, and therefore less nutritious. I always give pot barley a good soaking in cold water overnight, then bring it to the boil in three parts liquid to one of grain. Pearl doesn't really need soaking and will be tender in half an hour, or less.

    How many calories are in a bowl of mushroom barley soup? ›

    Each serving contains about 120 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 0 g cholesterol, 199 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugars, and 4 g protein.

    Is canned mushroom soup healthy? ›

    A cup of cream of mushroom soup, according to online nutrition information, has about 96 calories 6 grams of fat, 843 mg of sodium, etc. The big concern there is the salt - 843 mg is 35% of the daily recommended amount, which makes it very easy to eat too much salt.

    What organ is mushroom good for? ›

    Other research has shown mushrooms may also be protective against cancers of the liver, uterus, pancreas, and stomach, as well as acute leukemia.

    Does mushroom reduce belly fat? ›

    Lion's Mane mushrooms are a type of functional mushroom with health benefits that may also help you lose weight. These beneficial mushrooms are the non-psychedelic kind that may play a role in fat metabolism and support healthy body triglyceride levels (a type of fat).

    What type of barley is healthiest? ›

    The Bottom Line

    Barley is high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, which may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It may also aid weight loss and improve digestion. Whole-grain, hulled barley is more nutritious than refined, pearled barley. It can be substituted for any whole grain and easily added to your diet.

    Is barley soup anti inflammatory? ›

    Research shows that barley helps to regulate blood pressure, boost immunity and provide anti-inflammatory effects.

    Do you rinse barley before adding to soup? ›

    Rinse barley in a colander with cold tap water. Leave to drain for several minutes. Sauté veg 5 minutes: Heat olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, swede, mushrooms and garlic (yes, all at once!).

    Is barley soup high in carbs? ›

    Barley Soup (1 cup) contains 17.9g total carbs, 14.2g net carbs, 0.8g fat, 4.8g protein, and 95 calories.

    Is Pearl barley lower in calories than rice? ›

    If you're on a gluten-free diet, brown rice is the clear winner, because barley contains gluten. Brown rice also has over five times more folate and vitamin E. However, barley has twice the calcium and fibre and about 30 per cent fewer calories. The two are equivalent in protein and fat content.

    Which has more calories barley or wheat? ›

    It's clear that for calories, carbs, protein, and fats, wheat and barley are quite similar, even after undergoing processing, such as milling or de-hulling. However, wheat loses significant amounts of fiber during milling, as the majority of the fiber is found in the bran layer of the grain.

    What thickens mushroom soup? ›

    Add Flour Or Cornstarch

    You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

    Is mushroom soup good for your kidneys? ›

    Mushrooms can be a kidney-friendly ingredient when consumed in moderation. In place of dairy, this recipe uses flour to thicken and a non-dairy yogurt for a creamier and pleasing texture.

    Is mushroom soup good for blood pressure? ›

    Lower blood pressure

    Mushrooms are a rich source of potassium, a nutrient known for reducing the negative impact that sodium can have on your body. Potassium also lessens the tension in blood vessels, potentially helping to lower blood pressure.

    Is mushroom soup healthy? ›

    For such a low-caloric food, they are high in protein and have antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals that can cause illness. Mushrooms are high in soluble fiber which is helpful with maintaining proper gut function and managing the body's BMI.

    What does eating mushroom do to your body? ›

    Mushrooms are a reliable source of: B vitamins, which help to provide energy from foods, and form red blood cells. Vitamin D, which helps maintain and build strong bones. Antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage and inflammation that might lead to chronic diseases.

    Is mushroom weight loss or gain? ›

    Mushrooms are low in calories and high in nutrients, making them a great addition to a weight loss diet. They promote satiety, help control appetite, boost metabolism, and can replace high-calorie ingredients in various recipes.

    Is mushroom a detox food? ›

    Mushrooms have detoxifying properties that support liver function and help eliminate toxins from your body. This plan can also improve your skin clarity and boost your energy levels, making you feel rejuvenated. Embrace a natural, effective way to detox with the power of mushrooms.

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