Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup

Mama's Kitchen (Hope)'s Note:

Dried mushrooms and fresh veggies are simmered in a thyme and sherry flavored stock to create an easy and delicious soup fancy enough for company. NOTE: Sherry can be substituted as instructed here on Zaar or by using an equal amount of apple or orange juice to which a teaspoon of vanilla, orange or almond extract has been added. Recipe courtesy of Chef David Paquet, owner of Niagara Gourmet, St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 2B2 www.niagaragourmet.ca Posted for World Tour 2005, Canada

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 liter water or 4 ¼ cups water
• 30 g dried mushrooms or 1 ½ ounces dried mushrooms , any variety
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 onion , finely diced
• 1 stalk celery , finely diced
• 1 carrot , finely diced
• ¼ cup sherry wine
• ½ liter beef stock (1/2 liter is 51 ounces) or ½ liter vegetable stock or ½ liter chicken stock
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 2 teaspoons thyme , chopped

Directions:

1. Heat water to steaming and add mushrooms.
2. Cover and let stand for at least 20 minutes until soft.
3. Strain, reserve broth and chop mushrooms.
4. Melt butter, add onion, reduce to low and cook, stirring often until caramelized (15 minutes).
5. Add celery and carrots, cook 5 minutes.
6. Add mushrooms, cook 2 minutes.
7. Add Sherry and cook until almost evaporated.
8. Stir in mushroom broth (reserved liquid from soaking), stock & barley.
9. Simmer 30 minutes until almost tender.
10. Stir in thyme, salt & pepper.
11. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes until tender.
12. For Vegetarian use the Vegetable stock.

Reviews

[EmilyStrikesAgain]

This was really excellent. I made this vegan by using veggie broth and vegan butter. I also added a good handful of chopped fresh mushrooms in step 5. I agree that the onions too much, much longer to caramelize. I'm not sure I tasted the caramelization so I'd probably skip that step next time and just sautee them. I thought it tasted much better and richer the next day.

[Cook In Southwest]

I was excited to see a recipe that used dried mushrooms as well as barley so gave this a try. I've given it a mid-range rating because I thought the taste was just OK. It lacked a certain richness that I think mushrooms call for. Maybe if I had added some cream or more butter it would have fixed the problem, but didn't try that. I followed the recipe very closely, and even used my wonderful homemade beef stock which I thought would pretty much make any soup spectacular. It didn't. It's a nice first course kind of soup as far as the chunky and thick qualitites, so I served it before a roast beef entree. The flavor did go well, but it just lacked something (maybe a bottle of beer or a jar of beef gravy?) I don't think I'll make this again as is.

[Serri in Montana]

This soup is absolutely wonderful. made as directed, except didn't carmelize anything, added 8 oz. fresh mushrooms, just cause I had them, and added a little half and half at the end. The will be a repeat, especially in cold Montana.