German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep barley from getting soggy in soup? ›

“Pot” (hulled) barley needs to be soaked first and takes much longer to cook. I typically cook my barley in seasoned water before adding it to soup. 1 cup of barley will absorb 3 cups of liquid. Since it absorbs 3x its amount of water or broth, if it is cooked in the soup, it often will absorb most of the broth.

Browning the meat in large pieces adds deep, roasted flavor, without the over-toughening that happens when you brown it in smaller pieces. Sautéing the vegetables, then adding them back to the pot toward the end of cooking, ensures that they don't become flavorless bits of mush.

Barley is high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, which may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It may also aid weight loss and improve digestion. Whole-grain, hulled barley is more nutritious than refined, pearled barley. It can be substituted for any whole grain and easily added to your diet.

As barley is a starch the best you can do is dilute it, or thin it out a bit. You may need to add a fair bit of broth and more of your vegetal ingredients. Possibly to the point of doubling your recipe. It will depend on when you find the taste and texture to have gotten back to acceptable levels.

Overcooked barley will become mushy, while undercooked may have a thicker and chewier texture. You can make barley as a side dish, but you can also cook it into your food. Feel free to cook our pearled barley in your favorite soup or stew, but be mindful that it will absorb a lot of liquid.

The whole-grain barley soaked overnight cooked up the next day in 35 minutes (salting made no difference in timing or texture), while the cooked-from-dry grains took only five minutes longer. Flavor-wise, there wasn't much difference. The verdict? Don't bother soaking whole grains—the payoff is barley worth the effort.

6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples. Got a soup that tastes a little bland and unexciting? Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus.

Do you cook barley before adding it to soup? Your beef barley soup will simmer long enough to cook the barley. There is no need for the additional step of cooking the barley first. The barley takes about 30 minutes to cook completely.

Cook the grains.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until most (or all) of the liquid is absorbed and the barley is tender with a slightly chewy texture. Pearl barley takes 25 to 30 minutes to cook, and hulled barley will take 45 minutes to 1 hour to cook.

Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity: The gluten in barley can make celiac disease worse. Avoid using barley. Allergies to cereal grains: Consuming barley might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to other cereal grains, including rye, wheat, oat, corn and rice.

Is barley soup anti-inflammatory? ›

Research shows that barley helps to regulate blood pressure, boost immunity and provide anti-inflammatory effects.

Barley water has also been known to lower blood pressure. High blood pressure has often been known to be one of the leading causes of the cardiovascular disease called atherosclerosis. Since barley water helps reduce and regularize blood pressure, it can effectively help reduce the onset of atherosclerosis.

However, if you consume too much of it, its fiber content can cause stomach cramps, constipation, bloating, and gas. Unwanted weight gain. Barley water is high in calories per serving. You can further increase the calorie count if you add fruit juices or sweeteners like honey to your barley water mix.

Barley does not need to be soaked before cooking, however, it is a good idea to rinse the grains. This removes any dirt or extra starch that is on the grain. Like so many other grains, the way to make barley is to add water and heat.

Store leftover beef barley soup in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat either in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, or on the stovetop over medium heat. You can also store your leftovers in the freezer up to 6 months.

For starters, make sure you're cooking your barley correctly — if you don't love its texture, you might be either undercooking or overcooking it. Remember that when cooking barley on the stove, it will take a while: bring the barley to a boil then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Always rinse barley before adding it to the pot. This will remove any dust or dirt that has accumulated on the grains. It will also remove some extra starch from the grains. This starch makes the end result grains stickier.

Barley releases a lot of starch which can have an unpleasant effect on the soup...it can make the soup slimy and look like jelly when cold.