Soothing Turmeric Chicken With Pearl Barley (Printable)

Golden comfort soup featuring tender chicken, hearty pearl barley, and warming turmeric for cozy nourishment.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), diced

→ Grains

02 - 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 small zucchini, diced

→ Broth & Seasonings

08 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Garnishes

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in garlic, turmeric, cumin, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken and stir for 2 to 3 minutes until just starting to turn opaque.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, add pearl barley, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
05 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Add diced zucchini, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until barley is tender and chicken is fully cooked.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's one of those rare soups where you can taste the care in every spoonful without spending hours at the stove.
  • Pearl barley transforms into something almost silky, which sounds fancy but is honestly just patient cooking.
  • The turmeric gives you that warm, slightly earthy note that makes your whole kitchen smell like comfort.
02 -
  • If your barley is still chewy after thirty-five minutes, don't panic; some varieties are stubborn, and ten extra minutes won't hurt anything.
  • Turmeric stains everything it touches, so wash your cutting board and hands immediately, and consider using a wooden spoon you don't mind discoloring permanently.
03 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the pearl barley; it genuinely makes a difference in keeping your broth clear and beautiful.
  • Add the zucchini late in cooking so it stays tender and fresh rather than dissolving into the broth like the other vegetables.
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