Persian · Dinner

Persian Barley Soup

A thick Persian soup of pearl barley, carrot, onion, celery and chickpeas, finished with lemon juice and parsley.

1 hr 15 min total Serves 6 servings Easy
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Persian Barley Soup

Photograph credit: Mushroom Barley Soup by Cajsa Lilliehook · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr · this resized copy is shared under the same licence

Persian Barley Soup, Step by Step

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  1. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion, carrots and celery for 8 minutes until soft.

  2. Stir in the turmeric, then add the barley, chickpeas and stock. Bring to the boil.

  3. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 50 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the barley is tender.

  4. Add the salt, pepper and lemon juice. Stir in the parsley and add water if the soup is too thick.

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Notes for Getting It Right

  • Rinse the barley before it goes in.
  • Stir every few minutes so it does not catch.
  • Add hot water if the soup thickens too much.
  • Taste for lemon at the end, as barley soaks up acidity as it stands.

What to Serve with Persian Barley Soup

  • Flatbread
  • Plain yoghurt
  • Fresh mint
  • Pickled cucumber

Keeping and Reheating

Keeps in the fridge for 4 days. Freezes well for up to 3 months. It thickens as it cools, so loosen with water when reheating.

The Numbers per Serving

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.

301Calories
12gProtein
43gCarbs
9gFat
8gFibre
8gSugar
690mgSodium

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Compiled by Turab

Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.

First published ; last changed .