Mushroom Barley Soup



1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 pound mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 large carrots, chopped
2 large celery stalks, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
8 cups canned vegetable broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed


1. Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion and barley. Sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 20 minutes.
2. Add flour to pot and stir 5 minutes. Gradually mix in broth. Bring soup to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until barley is tender and soup is beginning to thicken, about 40 minutes. Mix in parsley and dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Yield: 8 servings

Bon Appétit
December 1995