Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (2024)

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This Lean Bison and Barley Soup is the ultimate healthy comfort food! Whip up a batch to keep you warm on a chilly evening. 289 calories and 6 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (1)

This Lean Bison & Barley Soup is a "must try" recipe! While I still have a soft spot in my heart for beef-packed soups, subbing bison for beef is a great way to lighten things up.

Bison meat has been adopted as a popular alternative to beef in the buffalo burgers found on menus around the country and is becoming more readily available in supermarkets and warehouse stores, such as Costco. But what's all the fuss about? What's the big deal about bison meat?

Well, since you asked...or was that me? Well, somebody asked. So, here we go:

Is bison meat good for you?

There's a reason that Readers' Digest listed bison as one of the top five foods that women should eat. Each 3.5 ounce serving of the lean meat is packed with iron...36 percent of the daily recommended amount, to be exact.

I don't know about the rest of you, but my average intake of iron is abysmal, something I lamented about when I posted my . I had just started using a food tracker, which let me know how pathetic I was, ferrically-speaking (that's going to be my new favorite iron-related phrase).

Okay, so it's high in iron. What else? Well, bison meat also boasts high levels of protein and Vitamin B-12 and lower calorie and cholesterol counts than beef, chicken or pork. I've got your attention now, don't I? Take a look at this nifty little chart to see what I mean.


Chart courtesy of Dr. M. Marchello at North Dakota State University

How are bison raised?

Bison live and feed primarily on grasslands, spending a minimal amount of time in feedlots. According to the National Bison Association, the animals are not subjected to chemicals or hormones.

What implications does this have for the consumer? Well, since we are all here because we love food, one of the primary benefits of grass-fed creatures (bison, cows, etc.) is that the meat often tastes better...in my humble opinion, that is. And, if given the choice, I will definitely choose the meat that has not been pumped full of antibiotics and hormones. Call me crazy.

Of course, there are plenty of environmental implications surrounding this issue, but we're here for soup, so I'm going to side-step those issues for the time-being.

Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (3)

Is bison meat expensive?

Bison meat tends to be pricier than most cuts of beef. However, I'm not suggesting that you completely forego beef in favor of bison - I know I'm not. However, you may want to consider working it into your meal rotation occasionally. It's a nice change from the usual and you just can't beat the health benefits.

Is this soup kid-friendly?

For parents out there, my kids would like you to know that they gave this soup a very enthusiastic double thumbs-up. In fact, they practically licked their bowls clean.

Bison meat also works beautifully in meat fondue, cooked in boiling broth and dipped in a variety of savory sauces. See our Apres Ski feature in FoodieCrush Magazine (on page 64 of the e-magazine) for details on fondue (bison and cheese varieties) and accompanying dipping sauces.

How to make bison barley soup:

First, brown the cubed bison meat, seasoning it as you go. Set it aside in a bowl while you cook the aromatics - shallots, celery, carrots and thyme.

Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (4)

Stir in the barley, beef broth, water and bison meat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer until barley is tender, which takes about 60 minutes.

Add the frozen peas and heat for additional 5 minutes. Taste and season with additional ground pepper, if desired. Stir in chopped parsley and serve it up!

Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (5)

Other recipes with bison meat:

{Cookin' Canuck}
Hoisin Buffalo Burger with Spicy Slaw {Cookin' Canuck}
Clean Eating Bison Chili {Kim's Cravings}
Spicy Bison Sweet Potato Skillet {The Sophisticated Caveman}

Printable Recipe

Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (6)

Lean Bison & Barley Soup with Green Peas

This Lean Bison and Barley Soup is the ultimate healthy comfort food! Whip up a batch to keep you warm on a chilly evening. 289 calories and 6 Weight Watchers SmartPoints

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soups

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Beef and Lamb Recipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 28 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 288.6kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces bison top sirloin steak cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 4 ½ teaspoons canola oil divided
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ large shallots minced
  • ¾ cup diced celery
  • ¾ cup diced carrots
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¾ cup pearl barley
  • 5 ¼ cups 99% fat-free beef broth
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¾ cup frozen green peas
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat 3 teaspoons canola in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the cubed bison meat, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is browned. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.

  • Reduce heat to medium and add 1½ teaspoon canola to the pan. Add chopped shallot, celery, and carrots, along with the dried thyme. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are just tender, 7 to 8 minutes.

  • Stir in barley, beef broth, water and bison meat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer until barley is tender, about 60 minutes.

  • Add frozen peas and heat for additional 5 minutes. Taste and season with additional ground pepper, if desired. Stir in chopped parsley and serve.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 6 (SmartPoints), 7 (Points+), 5 (Old Points)

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25of Recipe | Calories: 288.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.6g | Protein: 17.5g | Fat: 6.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Cholesterol: 16.9mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 229.8mg | Fiber: 8.4g | Sugar: 3.2g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Lean Bison & Barley Soup Recipe with Green Peas - Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

What if I put too much barley in my soup? ›

As barley is a starch the best you can do is dilute it, or thin it out a bit. You may need to add a fair bit of broth and more of your vegetal ingredients. Possibly to the point of doubling your recipe. It will depend on when you find the taste and texture to have gotten back to acceptable levels.

Does barley help thicken soup? ›

Yes! Barley holds a good amount of starch, which will release into the soup when it's cooked. That starch will help thicken the broth to leave you with a deliciously thick, creamy soup.

How good is barley soup for you? ›

Barley is high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, which may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It may also aid weight loss and improve digestion. Whole-grain, hulled barley is more nutritious than refined, pearled barley. It can be substituted for any whole grain and easily added to your diet.

What if beef barley soup is too thick? ›

If the soup is too thick, add a little water or more low-sodium beef broth to bring it to the desired consistency. Add the parsley right before serving and enjoy!

What to avoid when taking barley? ›

Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity: The gluten in barley can make celiac disease worse. Avoid using barley. Allergies to cereal grains: Consuming barley might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to other cereal grains, including rye, wheat, oat, corn and rice.

What are the side effects of too much barley? ›

However, if you consume too much of it, its fiber content can cause stomach cramps, constipation, bloating, and gas. Unwanted weight gain. Barley water is high in calories per serving. You can further increase the calorie count if you add fruit juices or sweeteners like honey to your barley water mix.

Does barley need to be cooked before adding to soup? ›

Do you cook barley before adding it to soup? Your beef barley soup will simmer long enough to cook the barley. There is no need for the additional step of cooking the barley first. The barley takes about 30 minutes to cook completely.

What happens if you don't rinse barley? ›

Barley does not need to be soaked before cooking, however, it is a good idea to rinse the grains. This removes any dirt or extra starch that is on the grain. Like so many other grains, the way to make barley is to add water and heat.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

Is barley good for your bowels? ›

Many of barley's health benefits come from it being an excellent source of dietary fiber. Fiber is essential for keeping the digestive system healthy, contributing to healthy bowel movements, and helping people avoid problems such as constipation.

Is barley soup anti inflammatory? ›

Research shows that barley helps to regulate blood pressure, boost immunity and provide anti-inflammatory effects.

Is barley soup good for high blood pressure? ›

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that regularly adding barley to your diet may lower your risk of heart disease. That's because barley may lower certain risk factors — in addition to reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, barley's soluble fiber may bring blood pressure levels down ( 25 ).

Why does my beef barley soup have no flavor? ›

Browning the meat in large pieces adds deep, roasted flavor, without the over-toughening that happens when you brown it in smaller pieces. Sautéing the vegetables, then adding them back to the pot toward the end of cooking, ensures that they don't become flavorless bits of mush.

How do you keep barley from getting soggy in soup? ›

“Pot” (hulled) barley needs to be soaked first and takes much longer to cook. I typically cook my barley in seasoned water before adding it to soup. 1 cup of barley will absorb 3 cups of liquid. Since it absorbs 3x its amount of water or broth, if it is cooked in the soup, it often will absorb most of the broth.

Can you overcook barley? ›

Overcooked barley will become mushy, while undercooked may have a thicker and chewier texture. You can make barley as a side dish, but you can also cook it into your food. Feel free to cook our pearled barley in your favorite soup or stew, but be mindful that it will absorb a lot of liquid.

Does barley get mushy in soup? ›

Overcooked barley will become mushy, while undercooked may have a thicker and chewier texture. You can make barley as a side dish, but you can also cook it into your food. Feel free to cook our pearled barley in your favorite soup or stew, but be mindful that it will absorb a lot of liquid.

How much does barley expand in soup? ›

Yield. To cook 1 cup of barley grains, you'll need 3 cups of water or broth. Like many grains, barley swells considerably when cooked, so 1 cup of dry barley grains will yield 3 cups of tender cooked grains.

How to fix oversalted soup? ›

A squeeze of lemon can balance out a mildly oversalted soup with its acidic flavor. A splash of vinegar can also do wonders for taming the salty flavor.

What is the purpose of barley in soup? ›

Barley's fiber content helps prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract. Eating fiber-rich foods such as barley may also contribute to weight loss. This is because it functions as a “bulking agent” in the digestive system, making a person feel fuller for longer.

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