Fine Cooking

Servings: 6-8

A little sherry vinegar adds just the right amount of acid to brighten up this earthy soup.

Ingredients

1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil
2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups finely chopped celery
Kosher salt
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
3 quarts Homemade Chicken Broth or lower-salt chicken broth
3-1/2 to 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken
3 cups cooked-until-barely-tender barley
3/4 pound Swiss chard, stemmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 oz. oyster mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
4 oz. shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
1 tsp. to 2 Tbs. sherry vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving (optional)

Calories (kcal) : 200
Fat Calories (kcal): 50
Fat (g): 6
Saturated Fat (g): 1
Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 1
Monounsaturated Fat (g): 3
Cholesterol (mg): 0
Sodium (mg): 1360
Carbohydrates (g): 30
Fiber (g): 5
Protein (g): 12

Preparation

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large (at least 8-quart), heavy-duty pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion, celery, and 1/2 Tbs. salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and lightly browned in places, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the thyme and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds.
Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are completely tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
Stir in the reserved shredded chicken, barley, chard, and mushrooms. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until all are tender and the flavors meld, 5 to 10 minutes.
Stir in 1 tsp. of the vinegar. Taste, and add more vinegar, 1 tsp. at a time, if needed, up to 2 Tbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish each bowl with a 1 Tbs. of the grated cheese, if you like.

Tip

If you made the chicken broth yourself, use the meat from that bird; otherwise you can use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken.

(6 ratings) Read Reviews

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Reviews (6 reviews)

snufkin | 11/22/2021
Yumm. A household staple.
MaryANeal | 03/27/2019
Very tasty chicken soup recipe.
lmjMadrid | 04/16/2015
Very delicious. Subbed green beans for chard and dried mushrooms for fresh because that's what I had. The sherry vinegar and Parmesan add so much balance to the flavors.

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What We're Cooking Now

Name: Chicken Soup with Barley, Mushrooms, and Greens
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients: 1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil; 2 cups finely chopped onion; 2 cups finely chopped celery; Kosher salt; 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme; 3 quarts Homemade Chicken Broth or lower-salt chicken broth; 3-1/2 to 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken; 3 cups cooked-until-barely-tender barley; 3/4 pound Swiss chard, stemmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 4 oz. oyster mushrooms, stemmed and sliced; 4 oz. shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced; 1 tsp. to 2 Tbs. sherry vinegar; Freshly ground black pepper; Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving (optional)