My mum's barley soup

The taste of my childhood... simple soup that will warm you up on cold winter days. Its secret lies in the delicious vegetable stock and coarsely-ground barley groats. The soup is at its best when it's cooked by my mum of course :)

We start cooking barley soup with the preparation of vegetable stock:

2l water
1 onion, peeled
3 carrots, whole or chopped
1 parsnip
1/2 leek
1/2 root celery
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 grais allspice
around 15 grains black pepper
1 bay leaf


In a big stockpot bring to boil all the ingredients, then lower the heat and cook under the cover for about 20 - 25 minut until carrots and celery are soft. Then take out the vegetables and you'll have ready clean vegetable stock which can be a basis for many delicious soups.

Barley Soup "Krupnik" 

vegetable stock prepared according to the recipe above, BUT:
Add 2 - 3 dried boletus / porcini mushrooms to the stock's ingredients. Don't take them out as well as don't take the carrots out.
around 6 medium size potatoes, cut into cubes
125g - 150g coarsely-ground barley groats
chopped parsley leaves
pepper and salt

Add the potatoes cut into cubes & barley to the boiling stock. Cook for around 25 minutes until the barley and potatoes are soft (but don't overcook them!). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with chopped parsley leaves.