Instant Pot Vegetable Barley Soup

Name: Instant Pot Vegetable Barley Soup
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: 1¼ cup Pearled barley; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp cumin powder; 1/2 tsp black pepper powder; 1 ½ cup vegetable chopped; 2 garlic cloves minced; 1 bayleaf; 1 onion chopped; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 32 oz vegetable stock; 2 cups water; salt to taste; 1 tbsp olive oil

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Who can say no to soup? Especially for something like this Barley soup with a chock full of fresh vegetables simmered in seasoning!

Here’s an Instant Pot Vegetable Barley soup recipe that is packed with the wholesome goodness of veggies, and barley.

A bowl of barley soup is on the table. — A bowl of vegetable barley soup.

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A perfect meal recipe for cold wintery days or a steamy side for a sandwich. It's 100% vegan goodness with no chicken stock or fish sauce. You can prepare this soup over the stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

The cooking time with an instant pot or any electric pressure cooker is just under 20 minutes.

So you can prepare this hearty soup recipe from start to finish in 30 minutes or less! I am adding this to my list of favorite Instant Pot recipes that require little or no planning. Isn't that what we all need on weekdays?

I have prepared this soup 3 times in the last 2 weeks. That’s how much my 7-year-old liked it. The barley soup is so simple that she was able to follow along easily and called it the simplest soup ever 🙂

This instant pot vegetable barley soup was a great success every time and I can’t wait to share the details with you.

I am sure it will be a hit with your whole family just like it was with mine! So let's get started!

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What is barley?
Ingredients note
How to make this
Substitution
Expert tips
Recipe FAQ
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Comments

What is barley?

Barley is a versatile, nutritious whole grain. It is said to have lots of health benefits including being high in fiber and rich in nutrients such as selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and biotin.

For this soup, barley brings a nice and thick texture and complements the flavors from the vegetables very well.

Ingredients note

Ingredients for barley soup on the table.

Pearl barley: Pearled barley is the most common variety of barley available in any grocery store and the one we need for this recipe. You can also find it online from Amazon.
Oil: Normally, soup recipes call for butter, but olive oil is a healthier alternative to butter for this recipe. Use extra virgin olive oil and not any blended version.
Seasoning: I have seen the best results with this blend of seasoning: Italian seasoning mix, paprika powder, bay leaves, black pepper, and cumin powder.
Vegetables: I used diced celery, onions, tomato paste, carrots, and peppers for this recipe. You could substitute carrots with other root vegetable options like parsnips. Adding potatoes is another option but the I wanted to keep the carb content low for this soup. Bell pepper and green beans are other options if you prefer bright green color in your soup.
Vegetable stock: You can also use a combination of water and vegetable stock or use low sodium vegetable stock, to prepare this soup.

How to make this

Start by washing the barley in water and rinse until you see clear water. This will remove all the dust in pearl barley.

An instant pot is with garlic and chopped onion on saute mode.

Set IP on saute mode add oil. As the oil heats up, add chopped garlic and onions. Saute them until onions turn translucent.

An instant pot is with tomato paste and onions on cook mode.

Add tomato paste, and deglaze by adding 2 tablespoon water or vegetable stock.

Add the seasonings: Bay leaf, Italian seasoning mix, paprika, cumin powder, black pepper powder. Stir to combine well.

An instant pot with-vegetables for barley soup.

Add chopped vegetables, water, vegetable stock, barley grains, and salt.

Pot is with vegetable barley soup on pressure cook mode.

Close lid with the vent in sealing position. Set IP on manual mode or pressure cook and the timer set for 15 minutes.

As the timer expires and the IP beeps, turn off the IP manually and wait for pressure to release naturally (not quick release).

An instant pot is with warm vegetable barley soup.

Open the lid after all pressure is released and check if barley is cooked (tender core). If not cooked fully, continue to cook in saute mode (medium-high heat) until well done ( 3-5 minutes).

Alternatively, you could also do a quick pressure release with a relatively shorter-timer setting.

Your flavorful soup is ready for the table! Serve hot with a side of sourdough bread or toasted french bread.

Substitution

If you prefer or need a gluten-free option, use Quinoa instead of barley.

You can add any kind of veggies you prefer, that suits your family.

I had used flavorful broth like the low sodium vegetable broth instead of a salt and water combination to make it more flavorful.

To add variation, you could add some vegan butter at the end for extra flavor and richness.

Expert tips

You can make this on the stove-top too, just adjust the cooking time for about 40 min. The saute setting should be performed on medium heat.
You could add in your own variation of the seasoning blend instead of the Italian seasoning mix.
Serve with some vegan parmesan cheese shreds or just salt and pepper.
Pair this comfort food with a side of crusty bread like toasted french bread.
Add black beans to make the soup thicker and to have a higher protein content.
Use the soup as a meal replacement option to help in your weight loss goals.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to cook pearl barley in a pressure cooker?

It takes about 15-20 min depending on the amount of barley you are cooking.

What is the difference between hulled barley and pearl barley?

Hulled barley is considered more nutritious, has a chewy texture whereas pearl barley is made by removing the bran layer, so it cooks faster. I used pearled barley in this recipe.

Is barley soup freezer friendly?

Yes, it can be frozen. Just be sure to thaw it to room temperature and then bring it to a boil in a saucepan before serving it.