Polish Creamed Mushroom Barley Soup Recipes

MRS. KOSTYRA'S MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Place the mushrooms in a small bowl. Add water and let soak overnight. Transfer mushrooms and soaking liquid to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mushrooms are tender, about 40 minutes. Drain mushrooms, reserving soaking liquid. Coarsely chop mushrooms; set aside.
• Add barley to a small saucepan with 3 cups stock. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the barley is tender, about 45 minutes. Stir in butter; set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 7 cups stock to a boil with the carrots, celery, and reserved mushrooms and soaking liquid. Stir in the cooked barley mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and the flour. While stirring, slowly add 1 cup of the stock. Stir into soup with dill. Serve immediately.

POLISH CREAMED MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a 6-8 quart pot, combine 2 quarts of fresh cold water with the chopped carrots and celery; bring to a rolling boil over med-high heat.
• Add in the barley, salt, and pepper; boil for 25 minutes, until the barley is tender, adding more water if necessary.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, over medium heat, saute the mushrooms and onion in butter until the mushrooms exude their liquid and the liquid evaporates; do not overcook.
• Add the mushroom mixture to the barley and cook another 15 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in the broth and return to a boil; stir in the cream; season with Maggi, salt, and pepper.
• Serve very hot in deep or wide bowls, sprinkled with parsley.

POLISH MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Soak porcini in 3 cups of very hot water.
• Put olive oil in medium saucepan; turn heat to medium-high. Add shiitakes and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add barley and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Remove porcini from liquid--do NOT discard the liquid. Sort thru and discard any hard bits. Add porcini to the pot. Cook, stirring for about 1 minute.
• Add bay leaf, mushroom liquid, and 3 cups additional water (or stock). Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Cook until barley is very tender, 20-30 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary, plus plenty of pepper.
• Serve hot or cover and refrigerate for up to a day before reheating, adding a little more water to thin the soup if necessary.

KRUPNIK (POLISH MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak the cepes in a little water for 15 minutes, until they soften.
• Chop all the vegetables finely in 2 batches in the food processor and put them in a pan with the barley and all the water (including the mushroom-soaking water).
• Chop the softened mushrooms in the food processor, and add them to the pot.
• Bring to the boil, remove the scum, season with plenty of salt and pepper, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the barley is very soft and plump.
• The barley will thicken the soup.
• Add water if necessary, to thin it.
• Serve with sour cream, especially if the soup was made with water instead of broth.