Old-Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup

Perfect on a cold day, this quick and easy vegetarian soup, packed with vegetables and a whole grain, can be on your table in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

4 Servings | Serving Size 1 1/4 cups

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 medium stalk of celery, chopped
  • 1 medium garlic clove, minced
  • 1 14.5 ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup chopped kale (Look for bags of washed and chopped kale in the produce section of your supermarket.)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Lightly spray a large Dutch oven with cooking spray. Add the oil, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion and celery over medium-high heat until golden, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 10 seconds. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the Parmesan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the barley is cooked.
  2. Ladle into soup bowls. Sprinkle with the Parmesan

Source: American Heart Association