Chicken and Barley Soup

This is from Baby, Let'd Eat! It was originally Barley Soup, but I changed it and added chicken. This comes out thick and creamy. Yum! I used dried minced onions as a time saver.

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 5

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup  hulled barley
• 2  tablespoons  hulled barley
• 5  cups low sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
• 1  carrot, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1  small sweet potato, peeled and chopped
• 1  cup fresh broccoli florets
• 1  small onion, chopped
• 1  bay leaf
•  salt, to taste
• 2  cups  cooked chicken, chopped

Directions

1. Place barley, chicken broth, carrot, sweet potato, broccoli, onion and bay leaf in a large pot and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour.
3. Stir occasionally from time to time and check to see that there is enough liquid. If not, add more chicken broth.
4. After 1 hour, add chicken and simmer for another 1/2 hour, or until barley is soft.
5. Remove the bay leaf and serve.