Persian Cream of Barley Soup (Soup-e Jo)

Persian Cream of Barley Soup is a delicious warm bowl of comfort. So easy, nutritious, bursting in taste and flavor, light in carbs and vegetarian.

Photography: bijansviewfinder.com

WHAT IS SOUPE JO OR SOUP-E JO

This creamy barley soup is just one of the many amazing classic Persian soups and it is also known as Soup-e Jo. And “Jo” means “barley”. It is so perfectly balanced in taste and nutrition. No wonder that it is so popular. Someday I will share another classic barley soup. But meanwhile you can check this hit Persian soup, more commonly served in restaurants, Ash-e Reshteh (Persian noodle soup).

HEALTH BENEFITS – PERSIAN CREAMY BARLEY SOUP

I just love barley. I think that it does not get as much attention as it should. It is a super nutritious grain. Barley can also be used to create interesting textures and consistencies in recipes. It is excellent for adding creaminess and body to soups, stews, puddings, gravies, desserts, alongside enriching it; unlike refined flour or corn starch that only add to the consistency of a recipe but are nutritionally inferior.

Just like oats, it is a great source of beta glucans – the fiber that is well known for its cholesterol lowering effect. But the barley grain has overall more fiber than oats. And the interesting thing is that, unlike many other grains, the fiber is present throughout the grain and not just in the bran/outer layer. I have written a lot more about barley in this post on Barley Porridge with Blueberries.

Photography: bijansviewfinder.com

This soup uses other ingredients that enrich it further with both flavor and nutrition – leeks, carrots, celery etc. Leeks are another favorite of mine – so tasty and healthy! Yet another super yummy recipe using leeks – Creamy leek avocado cilantro soup.

COOKING TIPS FOR BARLEY SOUP

I have used pearl barley for this recipe. But if you have access to hulled barley and would like to use it, just make sure to cook the soup longer until the barley is well done.

When I cook this soup, I use either leeks or mushrooms or both. Remember that when using only mushrooms, the soup will have a darker color due to the mushrooms. But the flavor is still awesome. You could also cook the soup with the leeks and add some sauteed mushrooms at the end of the cooking process.

This tasty and healthy Persian Creamy Barley Soup is a keeper for the comfort and nourishment of your loved ones!!

Finally, you may also like this Yogurt Soup with Barley and Chickpeas.

Photography: bijansviewfinder.com

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Persian Creamy Barley Soup (Soup-e Jo)

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

 

Persian Cream of Barley Soup is a delicious warm bowl of comfort. So easy, nutritious, bursting in taste and flavor, light in carbs and vegetarian.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Persian

Servings: 10 Cups

Calories: 115 kcal

Author: Roxana Begum

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion large, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic grated
• 1/2 cup barley
• 2 cups leeks and/or mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 cup carrot grated
• 1/4 cup celery chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon Persian spice mix (Advieh) or any mixed spice
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper ground
• 2 quarts chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice or more
• 1/2 cup sour cream low fat
• 3 tablespoons cilantro chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat the oil in a large cooking pot. Sauté the onions. Add garlic and stir. Sauté till the onions turn light golden brown.
   

   
   

2. Add barley, leeks/mushrooms, grated carrot, celery, bay leaves, spices, salt, pepper and stir. Sauté a few minutes.
   

   
   

   
3. Add the chicken broth. Bring it all to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about an hour or more until the barley has cooked to a very soft texture.
   

   
   

4. Using a hand blender or a table top blender process half of the soup ingredients to a smooth consistency. Mix it back with the remaining soup.
   

   
   

5. Adjust the consistency of the soup with more broth if needed. Adjust the salt and seasoning. Add lemon juice as per taste.
   

   
   

6. Scoop out some soup into a bowl and mix with sour cream and return it back to the soup pot and stir it.
   

   
   

7. Stir one tablespoon of cilantro into the soup. Garnish the Persian Creamy Barely Soup with the remaining cilantro.
   

   
   

RECIPE NOTES

I prefer to process only half the soup to a creamy consistency and mix it with the rest. If you prefer to process more or less, you may do that as per your taste.

 

Persian spice mix (Advieh) recipe is on the blog. Ready made advieh is available at Persian or middle eastern grocery stores or online.

May use a middle eastern or Mediterranean mixed spice as a substitute.

 

NUTRITION FACTS

Servings: 10                             Serving Size: 1 cup

Calories 115, Total Fat 4 g (Saturated Fat 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2 g), Cholesterol 4 mg, Sodium 308* mg, Potassium 297 mg, Phosphorus 94 mg, Total Carbohydrate 17 g, Dietary Fiber 2 g, Sugars 2 g, Protein 5 g

 

* The suggested amount of salt is just a guideline and may need to be adjusted. Check for any added salt in spice mixes and other ingredients and adjust.