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Mushroom Barley Soup with Flanken
4.9 from 108 votes

Mushroom Barley Soup with Flanken

This hearty mushroom barley soup features meaty flanken short ribs simmered with a combination of dried and fresh white mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. The pearl barley adds a satisfying chew, making the broth both rich and filling. The slow cooking tenderizes the ribs while infusing the soup with deep flavor from both the meat and mushrooms, ideal for a nourishing meal on a chilly day.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 225 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 8 short ribs about 2 1/2 lbs, flanken, meaty, trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or more as needed, or grapeseed oil
  • 6 dried mushrooms
  • 1 pound white mushrooms scrubbed and sliced
  • 1 cup carrot about 2-3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup celery about 3-4 stalks, chopped, including leaves
  • 1 whole onion chopped, large
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 3 quarts chicken stock low sodium, or beef or mushroom stock
  • 1 1/4 cups pearl barley
  • 2 bay leaf
  • salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse short ribs and pat dry. Generously salt and pepper them. With a knife, score the back side along the bone (this allows the meat to absorb more of the cooking liquid).
  2. In a large stockpot, heat 2 tbsp olive or grapeseed oil over medium high heat. Add shortribs and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes on each side.
  3. While the meat is browning, place dried mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with 3 cups of hot water. Allow to soak for 20 minutes.
  4. Once the meat has finished browning, remove and set aside. Add roughly half of the white mushrooms to the stockpot and brown over medium high heat. Remove and set aside.
  5. Add remaining half of white mushrooms to the pan and brown, adding additional oil as needed. Add carrots, celery, onion and the rest of the browned mushrooms. Cook until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, then reduce the heat to medium.
  6. By now the dried mushrooms will have softened. Drain the mushroom soaking water by straining it through a coffee filter or multiple layers of cheesecloth (use a mesh strainer or colander to hold the filter or cheesecloth) directly into the stockpot. Stir, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan as the liquid heats up.Give the soaked, softened mushrooms another quick rinse under running water to remove any remaining residue (wash carefully, grit can be hiding in the gills of the mushrooms). Chop the mushrooms into small pieces and add them to the stock pot.
  7. Add the chicken, beef or mushroom stock, barley, bay leaves and seared short ribs to the stockpot. Stir to combine all ingredients. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Allow soup to cook, uncovered, for 2 hours or until the barley and short ribs are completely tender and the soup is nicely thickened. Add water during the simmer if the soup becomes overly thick. After cooking, season with salt and pepper to taste. I use about 1 1/2 tsp salt and a heaping 1/4 tsp pepper. Use whatever amount of seasoning tastes best for you.
  8. Remove all of the short ribs from the soup and shred, then mix the meat back into the soup before serving. Alternatively you may serve whole short ribs on the bone, 1-2 per bowl of soup.

Notes

  • Use a large stock pot to accommodate all ingredients comfortably for simmering.
  • Soak dried mushrooms in hot water for about 20 minutes and strain the soaking liquid carefully to remove any sediment before adding to the soup.
  • Score the back of the short ribs to help the broth penetrate the meat more effectively during cooking.
  • Adjust the amount of olive or grapeseed oil as needed when browning meat and mushrooms to avoid sticking or burning.

Nutrition Information

Calories 225kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 33g (11%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 134mg (6%) Potassium 668mg (14%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 2735IU (55%) Vitamin C 2.6mg (3%) Calcium 35mg (4%) Iron 1.9mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 225

% Daily Value*

Calories 225kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 134mg 6%
Potassium 668mg 14%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 2735IU 55%
Vitamin C 2.6mg 3%
Calcium 35mg 4%
Iron 1.9mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.