Old-Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup

Perfect on a cold day, this quick and easy vegetarian soup, packed with vegetables and a whole grain, can be on your table in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

4 Servings | Serving Size 1 1/4 cups

• Cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium stalk of celery, chopped
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• 1 14.5 ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup chopped kale (Look for bags of washed and chopped kale in the produce section of your supermarket.)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Lightly spray a large Dutch oven with cooking spray. Add the oil, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion and celery over medium-high heat until golden, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 10 seconds. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the Parmesan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the barley is cooked.
2. Ladle into soup bowls. Sprinkle with the Parmesan.

Source: American Heart Association