Description
This hearty, cozy soup is perfect for fall! With diced sweet potatoes, fresh kale, and a full can of pumpkin purée.
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 large stalks celery, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup pearl barley, rinsed and drained
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin purée
- 1 cup water
- 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 2 packed cups fresh chopped kale
Optional Toppings:
- Toasted pepitas
- Greek yogurt, sour cream, or crème fraîche
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until onion has softened and begun to brown.
- Add diced sweet potato, sage, thyme, red pepper flakes, and barley, along with a generous pinch of kosher salt.
- Stir in pumpkin purée, chicken stock, and water. Add another generous pinch of kosher salt and a few turns of fresh cracked black pepper.
- Bring soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook 45 to 60 minutes, occasionally removing the lid to stir, until barley is cooked and sweet potatoes are soft.
- Stir in kale. Cook another 5 minutes, until greens have softened. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Add garnishes (optional) and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutions and Additions. Swap the barley for wild rice, lentils or another grain (farro, quinoa). Use pasta (orzo, tortellini, ravioli) instead of the barley if you like (you'll need to reduce the cook time). Add a splash of heavy cream, half and half, or coconut milk if you’d like a creamier soup. Add cannellini beans, butter beans, cooked Italian sausage, or cooked shredded chicken for extra protein.
Look for pearled barley, also called "pearled barley", which cooks more quickly than hulled barley (we like this pearl barley from Bob's Red Mill). The exact cooking time for barley can vary by brand; taste as you go and adjust the cook time as needed.
