Cabbage Barley Soup

Name: Cabbage Barley Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 h 15 min
Total time: 6 h 30 min
Yield: 8 servings (3 quarts).
Ingredients: 1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed; 1/2 cup medium pearl barley; 3 medium carrots, chopped; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 bottle (46 ounces) V8 juice; 4 cups water; 8 cups shredded cabbage (about 16 ounces); 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms; 3/4 teaspoon salt

My neighbor had an abundance of cabbage, so a group of us had a contest to see who could come up with the best cabbage dish. My hearty barley soup was the clear winner—they ate the whole pot! —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

Ingredients

1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed
1/2 cup medium pearl barley
3 medium carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bottle (46 ounces) V8 juice
4 cups water
8 cups shredded cabbage (about 16 ounces)
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place first eight ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Add cabbage. Cook, covered, on low until lentils are tender, 6-8 hours.
Stir in mushrooms and salt. Cook, covered, on low until mushrooms are tender, 15-20 minutes. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

Test Kitchen tips

Salt can prevent lentils from softening, so it’s added toward the end of cooking.

One medium head of cabbage will yield about 8 cups shredded.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 197 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 678mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 9g fiber), 11g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 1 lean meat.

Originally published as Cabbage and Barley Soup in Simple & Delicious February/March 2019