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

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German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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This easy German Barley Soup recipe, akaGraupensuppe, is so easy to make and so tasty. It's great for those cool autumn days and especially warming on cold winter days.

Why?

This soup is a "stick-to-your-ribs" satisfying comfort food!This grain is high in fiber and protein. It has a chewy texture and nutty taste, similar to brown rice.

Use this soup recipe to learn how to cook barley. It really is easy.

German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (4)

For the soup pictured above, I added about one pound of cubed raw chicken breast to the bacon.Then I cooked ittogether for about 5 minutes.

After that, I continued with the recipe. I usedchicken bouillon cubes and even added a bit of curry powder. This addition turned a normal barley recipeinto something WUNDERBAR!

Usethe quantities of vegetables as a rough guide. Add extra if you wish.Add other vegetables that are lurking in your fridge -- cauliflower, potatoes, and even green beans are great additions.

For the broth, use bouillon cubes; vegetable is traditional. Using a chicken or beef broth works great as well. Be creative! It's fun making your very own easy soup recipes. Use this one as a base.

Hummus?

Yep. Hummus. Sylvie, my daughter-in-law, shares that hummus is delicious in thisto add extra zing. Her easy hummus recipeis so quick to make and it's becoming wildly popular in Germany. Try it. I think you'll like it too!

Ready to make this barley soup?

Is the recipe below locked?Here'swhy.

German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (6)

German Barley Soup Recipe – Oma's Graupensuppe

This easy German Barley Soup recipe, akaGraupensuppe, is great for those coolautumn days and especially warming on cold winter days. Why? Because it's a "stick-to-your-ribs" satisfying comfort food!

Barley ishigh in fiber and protein. It has a chewy texture and nutty taste,similar to brown rice.

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Total Time

50 minutes

Servings:

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons oil
  • 8 ounces lean bacon, diced
  • 8 ounces pearl barley
  • 2½quarts (10 cups) broth
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 leek, sliced
  • pinch ground caraway seeds (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a large pot. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add bacon and continue cooking for about 1 minute.
  2. Add pearl barley and broth. Stir and bring to boil.
  3. Add carrots and celery. Bring to boil and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes.
  4. Add garlic and leeks. Simmer another 20 minutes until everything is tender. (The barley should still have a bit of "bite".)
  5. Season with caraway (optional) and salt and pepper.

Notes/Hints:

  • Add some cubed meat, such as raw chicken breast, or perhaps somepork or beef, to the bacon as you're cooking it. Brown it a bit forabout 5 minutes and continue with the recipe.
  • Season with a bit of curry powder if you've added chicken.

* * * * *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (7)

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German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (20)

German Barley Soup Recipe ~ Oma's Graupensuppe

By Oma Gerhild Fulson
German Barley Soup Recipe - Oma's Graupensuppe (21)
This easy Barley Soup recipe, Graupensuppe, is a German staple. Easy to make and so tasty. It's especially warming on cold winter days. The ultimate 'stick-to-your-ribs comfort food.

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: onion,oil,bacon,carrots,celery,leek,oil,barley,broth,seasonings,garlic,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Words to the Wise

"People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives."

Proverbs 16:2 (NLT)

Top of Barley Soup Recipe

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

FAQs

What is the most popular soup in Germany? ›

Common soups in German restaurants include oxtail, beef or chicken broth with noodles, dumplings, or rice, goulash, split pea, cream of asparagus, turtle soup (Echte Schildkrötensuppe) and cream of lobster.

Is barley soup anti inflammatory? ›

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

Should barley be soaked before adding to soup? ›

Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).

Why does my beef barley soup have no flavor? ›

That's because the beef needs time to cook, and if we boil the vegetables for the same amount of time, they'll become flavorless wads of mush. Don't worry: We'll add them back to the pot long enough to tenderize them and get more of their flavor into the broth.

What is the number 1 food in Germany? ›

Sauerbraten is regarded as one Germany's national dishes and there are several regional variations in Franconia, Thuringia, Rhineland, Saarland, Silesia and Swabia. This pot roast takes quite a while to prepare, but the results, often served as Sunday family dinner, are truly worth the work.

What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What are the side effects of barley soup? ›

Side effects might include gas, bloating, and an unpleasant taste. Some people might also be allergic to barley. When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if barley is safe. Allergic skin reactions are possible.

Is barley good for your bowels? ›

May Improve Digestion

One-half cup (100 grams) of uncooked hulled barley packs 17.3 grams of fiber, or 69% and 46% of the RDI for women and men respectively (6). Dietary fiber increases the bulk of your stool, making it easier to pass through your digestive tract ( 14 ). Barley may help relieve constipation.

Is barley better for you than rice? ›

Farro and barley, being whole grains, contain more fiber and health benefits than white pasta or white rice. Barley and farro are similar in that they are high in fiber and also contain protein. Fiber content allows barley and farro to play a role in lowering cholesterol and strengthening the immune system.

What happens if you don't rinse barley before cooking? ›

There is no need to rinse barley before using it. To enhance the flavor of barley, heat the kernels in a skillet for a few minutes or cook it in broth instead of water. You can save time by cooking extra barley and freezing it. Add it to soups or salads as you need it.

What is the difference between barley and pearl barley? ›

Hulled barley, considered a whole grain, has had just the indigestible outer husk removed. It's darker in color and has a little bit of a sheen. Pearled barley, also called pearl barley, is not a whole grain and isn't as nutritious. It has lost its outer husk and its bran layer, and it has been polished.

What if I put too much barley in my soup? ›

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.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

How do you fix bland barley soup? ›

Celery is essential, as someone else mentioned. You wouldn't think it would add much, but there's something magic about it. I also toss in some celery seeds (not celery salt!) I grind them to a fine powder for beef barley soup but add them whole for chicken soup.

What is a substitute for pearl barley in soup? ›

  • Quinoa. Quinoa is a great substitute for barley because also has a nutty and earthy flavor like barley. ...
  • Farro. Farro is one of the best substitutes for barley. ...
  • Brown Rice. Brown rice has a similar chewy texture and nutty flavor like barley. ...
  • Bulgur. ...
  • Pearl Couscous. ...
  • Sorghum. ...
  • Buckwheat. ...
  • Millet.
Apr 20, 2023

What is the national soup of Germany? ›

German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)

What are the German soups? ›

10 soups to warm up a cold, damp season
  • Pumpkin soup. While not indigenous to Germany, pumpkin soup is practically on every menu in German restaurants in the fall. ...
  • Flädle soup. ...
  • Bavarian Griessknödel soup. ...
  • Bavarian beer soup. ...
  • Pea soup. ...
  • North German fish soup. ...
  • Potato soup. ...
  • Goulash soup.

What are the top 3 foods in Germany? ›

These are considered to be national dishes. Of all these regional and national dishes, Germany is most famous for Currywurst, sausages, pretzels and Black Forest Gateau, but as you can see, there is plenty more to German cuisine than just these.

Are there soup kitchens in Germany? ›

Würges and many other representatives of 917 other food banks and soup kitchens in Germany share the same fear over their future. Across the country, food pantry workers, most of them volunteers, are sounding the alarm that charitable donations are no longer enough to pay for storage space, delivery trucks and rents.

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