Chicken, Barley & Mushroom Soup

4.8

(10)

8 Reviews

This healthy chicken soup recipe is chock-full of sturdy root vegetables and whole-grain barley. You can use any combination of dried and fresh mushrooms here. The soup will thicken as it sits on the stove--thin it as needed with more broth or water.

By Katie Workman

Updated on April 18, 2024

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Reviewed by Dietitian

Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD

Cook Time:

45 mins

Additional Time:

1 hr

Total Time:

1 hr 45 mins

Servings:

Yield:

8 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Nut-Free Dairy-Free Soy-Free High-Protein Egg-Free Low-Calorie

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Ingredients

1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium leeks, white and pale-green parts only, rinsed and coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps coarsely chopped
8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
Coarsely ground pepper to taste
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup pearl barley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Directions

Soak dried shiitakes in boiling water for 20 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and reserve the liquid. Squeeze the mushrooms to remove excess liquid, then dice.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic; cook, stirring, until very soft, about 4 minutes. Add carrots, fresh shiitakes, white mushrooms, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until it is no longer pink on the outside, about 4 minutes.
Add broth, barley, thyme, the reserved soaking liquid and chopped soaked mushrooms. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and simmer until the barley is tender, about 50 minutes. Stir in vinegar.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, Soup Cookbook

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

241	Calories
9g	Fat
24g	Carbs
18g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 1/4 cups
Calories 241
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 24g	9%
Dietary Fiber 4g	16%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 18g	36%
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 2g	10%
Cholesterol 38mg	13%
Vitamin A 3147IU	63%
Vitamin C 6mg	7%
Folate 44mcg	11%
Sodium 401mg	17%
Calcium 47mg	4%
Iron 2mg	13%
Magnesium 46mg	11%
Potassium 611mg	13%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Chicken, Barley & Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

Directions

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

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