VEGETABLE AND BARLEY SOUP

Barley is an amazingly versatile and nutritious grain. I remember grandma and mom used to make barley porridge when ever anyone was sick. Adding some to your pot will improve your health along with the flavour of whatever soup / stew you are making. Here is a hearty vegetable and barley soup for you.

Ingredients:
Barley ... 1/2 cup (soaked)
Onion .... 1 small (chopped)
Carrot ... 1/4 cup (diced)
Capsicum .. 1/4 cup (diced)
Baby corn ... 2-3 (cut into small pieces)
Celery ........ 1 stick (diced)
Tomato ..... 1 (blanched and peeled)
Seasoning .. 1 cube (I used Maggi)
Salt ........... to taste
Black pepper .. freshly crushed.
Soy sauce ... 1 tbsp (optional)
Coriander leaves ... for garnishing.
Olive oil.... 1 tbsp

Method:
1. Soak the pearl barley for few hours. Boil it or pressure cook it with a little salt until the grains are tender.
2. In a pan pour olive oil and saute the onion for a minute.
3. Add all the diced vegetables and boiled barley.
4. Add about 3-4 cups of vegetable stock or water and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the flame and simmer the soup.
6. Now cut the blanched tomato after removing the seeds and add to the soup.
7. Crumble the seasoning cube and stir it into the soup.
8. Add the salt and soy sauce which is optional. Be careful adding the salt as the seasoning cube and soy sauce both contain salt.
9. When the vegetables are done season with freshly ground black pepper and add the coriander leaves.