Soothing Turmeric Chicken Pearl Barley (Printable)

Golden chicken soup with pearl barley, warming spices, and fresh vegetables for a comforting meal.

# What you'll need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 oz), diced

→ Grains

02 - 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 small zucchini, diced
08 - 3.5 oz baby spinach leaves

→ Broth and Seasonings

09 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

→ Finish

17 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken and cook, stirring, until lightly browned on all sides, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and add pearl barley and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 35 minutes.
05 - Add zucchini and continue simmering for 10 minutes, until barley is tender and chicken is cooked through.
06 - Stir in spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Season with salt and lemon juice. Remove bay leaf.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's the kind of soup that tastes like it's actually doing something good for you, without feeling like medicine.
  • Pearl barley makes it hearty enough to be a real meal, not just a starter.
  • The spice blend is warm and embracing rather than aggressive or spicy.
02 -
  • If you add the spinach too early, it falls apart and makes the broth muddy—wait until the very end and it'll look vibrant and taste fresh.
  • Pearl barley takes longer to cook than rice or farro, so don't swap it without adjusting your timing, or you'll end up with either mushy soup or crunchy barley.
03 -
  • If your turmeric is more than a year old, it's probably lost some potency—give the jar a smell test, and if it's faint, use a bit more to make sure the golden warmth shines through.
  • A pinch of chili flakes stirred in right before serving adds gentle heat without changing the dish's essential comfort, and it's the move I make when I want something with a little more edge.
Go back