Slow Cooker 5-Mushroom Barley Soup

This hearty version of an American classic soup is inspired by 'Chef Jakey' of the long-gone 'Steak Pub' in 1970's Monticello, NY. Long ago, I lived and worked in the upstate New York resort town of Monticello. As an electrical contractor, one of my clients was an upscale restaurant called 'The Steak Pub.' They had an Asian head chef named 'Jakey.' During winter months when business was slow, we spent hours doing electrical upgrades. Inevitably, we would be there at lunch time, and Jakey would invite us to his specialty, Mushroom Barley Soup, with hot sourdough. The addition of the cream of mushroom soup gives a creamier end result. Serve hot with sourdough or other fine bread, or garlic rounds.


Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes · Soup Recipes · Vegetable Soup Recipes · Barley Soup Recipes


Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Servings: 6
Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Ingredients List

  • 3 cups water

  • 1 cup barley

  • 4 cups beef broth

  • 1 cup milk

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 cup diced onion

  • ½ cup diced celery

  • ½ cup diced carrot

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

  • 1 (6 ounce) package sliced white mushrooms

  • ½ cup chopped brown beech mushrooms

  • ½ cup chopped oyster mushrooms

  • ¼ cup dried shiitake mushrooms

  • ¼ cup dried black mushrooms, broken into small pieces

  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (Optional)

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground mixed peppercorns


Directions

  1. Heat water in a slow cooker set to High until hot; add barley, beef broth, milk, olive oil, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, white mushrooms, brown beech mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, black mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup, salt, and ground mixed peppercorns to the slow cooker.

  2. Cover and cook on High for 1 hour.

  3. Remove shiitake mushrooms with a slotted spoon and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Reduce heat setting to Low and continue cooking 7 hours more.

Cook's Notes:

If planning for a dinner meal, depending on time of day, stop cooking until three hours before serving time. Re-heat on HIGH for first hour, reduce to LOW for remaining 2 hours.

If preparing before going to work, place on LOW setting before leaving. Cooking may extend beyond 8 hours but will only deepen the flavor. Insure cover is in place tightly, to avoid evaporation of liquid. If needed, add additional water or milk to thin to desired consistency.

Brown Beech mushrooms usually come attached to rhizome root ball. Cut from mushrooms and chop finely for earthy flavoring.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition Facts
271 Calories
10g Fat
39g Carbs
10g Protein


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