Split Pea, Lentil & Barley Soup!

 

On a chilly day, what better way to warm up than with a nice hot satisfying bowl of soup?

Until my bout with both breast and thyroid cancer in 2003, I used to pick up canned soup at the supermarket and never really paid attention to the ingredient labels.

After my cancer ordeal, I became more aware of what I put into my body and realized that the canned soup was garbage.

I realized that most soups have some form of MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) added to the broth. 

At the same time that I was diagnosed with cancer, I had met my current husband and had only been seeing him for 2 months.

He stood by me and took care of me all during my cancer ordeal.  One huge reason I fell in love with him.

Anyway, I found out that he is very allergic to MSG and gets sick for days every time he consumes something that contains it.  Worse yet, the food industry doesn't always list it as MSG.  The food industry masks it by using other names, like Glutamic acid or glutamate, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, Autolyzed yeast extract, Sodium Caseinate, Yeast extract, Textured protein or protein isolate, L-glutamic acid monosodium salt, sodium salt of glutamic acid, Bouillon broth or stock powders. 

MSG never bothered me, but his allergy to it made me more aware.  I have learned that MSG is a neurotoxin and I don't want it in my body even though I am not allergic.  There are many other questionable ingredients listed on canned soups as well.  So, now I make my own soup and broth from scratch.  

Making soup is not hard and not that time consuming as it used to be.  The benefits of using fresh whole food ingredients as compared to ingredients processed with chemicals is second to none.

Here is a split pea, lentil and barley soup recipe that I've been making and have gotten rave reviews from my family and friends.  This recipe is also totally vegan, but sadly it is not gluten free.  But that can be changed by eliminating the barley and adding more lentils and/or split peas.  Barley is the culprit as far as gluten content.

Also, it doesn't have to be vegan.  I've cooked bacon and fried the onions in the bacon grease, then added the crumbled bacon as a topping to the soup when served.

Instead of plain water, you can use chicken, beef or vegetable broth, (preferably homemade) for more flavor as well as nutrition.  That's what I love about soup.  It enables you to be so creative.

You can add more veggies to it as well.  I remember my mom making soup.  She just threw in what she had on hand, and it always came out delicious. 

Ok, enough of my ramblings.  Let's get down to the recipe.

Split Pea, Lentil and Barley Soup

• Prep Time: 5 min.
• Total Time: 1 hr. 20 min.

Ingredients:

•  1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
•  2 Medium sized chopped onions
• 1/2 cup dried green split peas
• 1/4 cup lentils
• 1/4 cup barley
• 5 cups water
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 Diced unpeeled potato
• 1 chopped carrot
• 1 chopped celery stalk with leaves
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 tsp. unrefined sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 

 

Instructions: 

Cook the chopped onions in the olive oil until tender.

Add the green split peas, lentils, barley, water and the bay leaf.

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer.

Cover and allow to simmer for 45 minutes.

Then add the diced potato, carrot, celery stalk, basil, salt, thyme and pepper.

Simmer for another 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Remove bay leaf and serve.

And that's it!  In less than 2 hours, you have hot, satisfying, nourishing soup to enjoy!

Hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do.

Bon Appetit!