Light Coconut Cream Broccoli and Barley Soup

This refreshing light cream soup is chock-full of yummy flavors! I was inspired to add the barely for fiber and substance, and the low-fat coconut milk is a tasty change. Super easy to make. The flavor is refreshing, too!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 343 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 cups water
• ¾ cup barley
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
• 2 dashes ground nutmeg
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 (14 ounce) can reduced-fat coconut milk
• 5 cloves garlic, cut into slivers and divided
• 7 cups chopped broccoli florets and stalks
• 3 ¼ cups low-sodium vegetable stock
• ¼ cup grated Asiago cheese (Optional)
• ½ bunch fresh parsley, chopped (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring the barley and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the barley is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir the onion and celery into the melted butter, place a cover on the pot, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add about half the garlic. Season with the black pepper, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and nutmeg. Return the cover to the pot and cook another 5 minutes.

Step 3

Stir the broccoli, vegetable stock, and remaining garlic into the mixture and bring to a boil. Return the cover to the pot, reduce heat to medium, and cook another 15 minutes, stirring once. Remove the pot from heat.

Step 4

Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway. Hold the blender lid with a folded kitchen towel and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can puree the soup with a stick blender directly in the pot.

Step 5

Return the soup to medium-low heat. Stir the coconut milk, 2% milk, and barley into the pureed soup; cover and cook until hot, 5 to 8 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with Asiago cheese and parsley to serve.