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Turkey & Barley Comfort Soup

No complicated recipe. No enormous batch. Just good food from ingredients you already have.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 2
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 portion Homemade Soup Starter Mix
  • 4 cups chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 to 1½ cups cooked turkey chopped or shredded
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil optional
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Additions
Depending on what you have available:
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • ½ cup frozen corn
  • A handful of fresh spinach
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cabbage
  • Extra cooked vegetables
  • A small amount of leftover gravy

Method
 

Combine the starter and broth.
  1. Place the Homemade Soup Starter Mix in a medium saucepan.
  2. Pour in the broth and stir well.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat.
  1. Once the soup reaches a boil, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
  2. Cover the pot partially with a lid and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. The barley and dehydrated vegetables need time to absorb the liquid and become tender.
Add the turkey.
  1. Once the vegetables and barley are beginning to soften, stir in the cooked turkey.
  2. Continue simmering for another 10–15 minutes, or until the barley and vegetables are completely tender.
  3. If the soup becomes thicker than you like, add additional broth or water.
Add optional vegetables.
  1. If you're using frozen peas, corn, or spinach, stir them in during the last few minutes of cooking.
  2. You want them heated through without cooking them into oblivion.
Taste and finish.
  1. Taste the soup.
  2. Add salt and black pepper as needed.
  3. Stir in the parsley.
  4. If the soup tastes a little flat, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
  5. You don't need much. The goal isn't to make the soup taste lemony. A little acidity simply helps brighten the other flavors.
Serve.
  1. Ladle the soup into two bowls.
  2. Add a little fresh parsley on top if you have it.
  3. Then settle in with a spoon and enjoy the fact that yesterday's pantry project is now dinner.