Hearty Mushroom-Barley Soup With Chicken and Vegetables

My family loves this soup and requests it often --- use only pearl barley for this, you can use leftover turkey in place of chicken. This soup gets thicker if left overnight in the refrigerator, so you might want to thin out with a little water or broth when rewarming it. Feel free to use any veggies you like in place of the peas or corn! Serve this hearty soup with crusty buns to dip into the broth, this recipe can easily be doubled.

• Ready In: 65 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons butter or 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 2  medium onions, chopped
• 3  tablespoons  fresh minced garlic
• 1  small celery rib, diced
• 2  large carrots, peeled and diced
• 1⁄2 lb white button mushrooms, sliced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste) (optional)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 4  cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1  large bay leaf
• 1⁄2 cup pearl barley (washed over with cold water)
• 2  cups  cubed  cooked chicken or 2  cups ham
• 1  cup  frozen peas (optional) or 1  cup corn (optional)
• 1 (10 ounce) can  cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 1⁄2 cup half-and-half cream (or use 1/4 each cup milk and whipping cream)
• 1⁄4 cup  grated parmesan cheese (more for sprinkling)
•  salt and black pepper

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or saucepan heat butter over medium heat; add in onions, garlic, celery, carrots, mushrooms slices and cayenne (if using) and thyme; saute for about 5 minutes.
2. Add in the chicken broth, bay leaf and barley; simmer covered for about 40 minutes, or until the barley is desired texture.
3. Add in the cooked chicken or ham, peas, cream of chicken soup, half and half cream and Parmesan cheese; simmer for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.