Rustic Duck and Barley Soup Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This Rustic Duck and Barley Soup Recipe is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines tender duck meat with nutritious barley and fresh vegetables. Perfect for chilly days, this soup is a comforting option for any meal.

The recipe is straightforward and utilizes basic cooking techniques, making it accessible for home cooks. You can adjust the ingredients to include your favorite vegetables or herbs.

Hearty Duck and Barley Soup Recipe

This soup features succulent duck simmered with barley, carrots, celery, and herbs, creating a rich and satisfying meal. The recipe takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from start to finish and serves 6 people.

Ingredients

2 duck legs, skin on
1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
4 cups chicken or duck broth
2 medium carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Sear the Duck: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the duck legs, skin side down, and sear until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the duck and set aside.
Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
Add Barley and Broth: Stir in the rinsed barley, thyme, bay leaf, and broth. Bring to a boil.
Simmer: Return the duck legs to the pot. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the barley is tender and the duck is cooked through.
Shred Duck: Remove the duck legs from the soup. Let cool slightly, then shred the meat from the bones and return it to the pot. Discard the bones and bay leaf.
Season and Serve: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.