Instant Pot Vegetable Barley Soup

Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup served in a white bowl

5 from 4 votes

This Indian style Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup recipe is light, healthy, full of flavour and so filling made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker or stovetop.

Course Soup

Cuisine Indian

Keyword barley, instant pot barley soup

Diet Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Method Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 230kcal

Author Bhavana Patil

Equipment

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 large carrot diced into ½ inch pieces
½ red bell pepper diced into ½ inch pieces
1 large tomato diced OR (1 tablespoon tomato paste)
1 cup green peas frozen
½ cup sweet corn frozen
¾ cup pearl barley rinsed
salt to taste
black pepper powder to taste
5-6 cups water or vegetable stock
juice of half lemon
2 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro)

Dry Spices:

½ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder or garam masala powder

Instructions

Instant Pot Method:

Firstly, wash and rinse the Barley, keep aside.
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it’s hot, add bay leaf, minced garlic, onions and saute for 2-3 minutes till onions soften.
Add carrot, red bell pepper, tomato, green peas, sweet corn, pearl barley, dry spices like turmeric, ground cumin, curry, or garam masala powder into the pot.
Then pour vegetable stock or water into the Instant pot along with some salt and black pepper.
Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, Quick Release(QR). Open the lid.
Lastly, squeeze some lemon juice and garnish with cilantro. Stir it all up.
Vegetable Barley Soup is ready to enjoy!

Stovetop Pot Method:

Follow same steps as instant pot in a pot and cook covered for about 35-40 minutes until the barley and vegetables are cooked to your liking

Notes

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT.

Variations:

You can add other vegetables like celery, potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini.
For more protein add cannellini beans, edamame beans, green lentils, or chickpeas along with barley
You can also add greens like spinach, kale, mustard greens orchard.
If you want it to be more spicy and curry style add 1 can 14 oz diced tomatoes or sauce.

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition