Mark Bittmans Mushroom Barley Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Soak porcini in 3 cups very hot water. Put olive oil in a medium saucepan and turn heat to high. Add shiitakes and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown. Add barley, and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown; sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Remove the porcini from their soaking liquid, and reserve liquid. Sort through porcini and discard any hard bits.
• Add porcini to pot and cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add bay leaf, mushroom soaking water and 3 cups additional water (or stock, if you prefer). Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer; cook until barley is very tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Add soy sauce, and taste. Add salt if necessary and plenty of pepper. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Soak the dried mushrooms in 5 cups very hot water until soft, anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. When they are tender, remove mushrooms from the soaking liquid with a slotted spoon, reserving the liquid; slice or chop if the pieces are large.
• Meanwhile, put the butter in a large pot that can later be covered over medium heat. When it melts, add the herb, onions and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to medium high, and add the fresh mushrooms; add the soaked mushrooms when they're ready. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have given off their liquid and begun to brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the sherry or Madeira to the pot and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom as the liquor starts to bubble. Add the stock or soaking liquid and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a steady simmer and cook, covered, until flavors have melded, about 15 minutes.
• Discard the herb. Reduce the heat to low, and purée the liquid with a hand-held mixer to desired consistency. (I like it half-puréed.) Add the cream if you're using it; stir to combine and let simmer for a few minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning; garnish with parsley and serve.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, combine all the stock ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 hours. Strain the broth into another large pot. Save the meat, but discard the rest of the solids. If the stock in your new pot is greasy, let it cool for about 15 minutes and then place 6 ice cubes in the pot. The grease will immediately congeal and you can spoon out the ice cubes and grease in one fell swoop. Your homemade beef stock is ready.
• Taste the stock and add salt and pepper to taste. Then add the onion, celery, parsnips, carrots, parsley, pearl barley and sliced mushrooms. Bring to a boil and then add the tomato paste and bay leaves. Simmer 30 minutes, until the barley is soft. Then add the saved beef and cook for another 45 minutes. You can add a little water if too much liquid has evaporated.

Steps:

• In a very large soup pot, combine all the stock ingredients. Bring to a boil and then simmer for two hours. Strain the broth into another large pot. Save the meat, but discard the rest of the solids. If the stock in your new pot is greasy, let it cool for about 15 minutes and then place 6 ice cubes in the pot. The grease will immediately congeal and you can spoon out the ice cubes and grease in one fell swoop. Your homemade beef stock is ready.
• Now it is time to make the soup. First, taste the stock and add salt and pepper to taste. Then add the onion, celery, parsnips, carrots, pearl barley, and sliced mushrooms. Bring to a boil and then add the tomato paste, bay leaves, and parsley. Simmer 30 minutes, until the barley is soft. Then add the saved beef and cook for another 45 minutes You might need to add a little water if too much liquid has evaporated.

Steps:

• Place the meat and a pinch of salt in a 3-to-4-quart soup pot. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil, skim the foam from the surface, cover, reduce the heat and simmer gently for one hour.
• Add the carrot, celery, onion, parsnip and/or parsley root, knob celery and parsley sprigs.
• Remove the dried mushroom caps from their soaking liquid and chop coarsely. Add to the soup. If the soaking liquid is not sandy, add it to the soup.
• Simmer for one hour, then add the barley. Simmer for 30 minutes to one hour more, or until the meat is very tender. If the soup thickens too much add a little boiling water as needed.
• Remove the meat, trim off the fat and cut in chunks or spoonsize pieces. Return to the pot. Vegetables can be diced and returned to soup or eliminated, as you prefer.
• Skim the fat from the surface of the soup. Season to taste and sprinkle in the dill if desired. Serve each portion of soup and meat with half a large (or 1 small) boiled potato.