Porcini Barley Soup

Dear Readers, You might be interested to click back to my last post and share a meatless meal in my link up.   Let's share some tasty meal ideas for Meatless Mondays. 

This recipe comes from The Cooking Channel website. You can check it out here, but I think you would be better just to follow my directions…..not that I’m such a great cook, but the directions and method are filled with mistakes over there! Like, they never actually put the porcini mushrooms in the soup! Also, they recommend ¼  C butter and 6 Tablespoons of oil….yuck. Way too much.  So read on, dear follower, and prepare to experience a culinary delight.

(ps – a dollop of sour cream on this soup when you serve it would be great....Also, maybe a sprinkle or two of dill….maybe a squeeze or two of lemon juice to brighten the flavors right at the end…. )

Here’s what you need:

1 C (1 ounce) dried porcini mushrooms

1 T olive oil

3 small shallots, minced

1 medium onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

½ - 1 t dried thyme

½ C white wine

2 quarts vegetable broth  (Use the best quality. You may also use beef or chicken broth here)

½ C pearl barley

Salt and pepper

¾ pound potatoes, peeled and diced

Here’s what you do:

Soak the dried mushrooms in 2 C boiling water for 1 hour.  When they are soft, cut them in small pieces.  Reserve the liquid for the soup.

Sauté the onions, shallots, garlic and thyme in the olive oil until soft but not brown. Add the wine, broth, barley, mushrooms and the entire 2 Cups of mushroom infused water. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour.

Add the cubed potatoes and cook for another 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

(printable recipe)