Hearty Nordic Barley and Root Vegetable Stew
A warming stew featuring chewy barley and a medley of roasted root vegetables simmered in a savory broth, inspired by Northern flavors. This Northern European-inspired soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 65 minutes, pairs pearled barley, carrot, parsnip for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pearled barley
- 2 medium, diced carrot
- 1 medium, diced parsnip
- 1 cup, diced rutabaga
- 2, diced celery stalks
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh dill
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Step 2: Add 2 diced medium carrots, 1 diced medium parsnip, 1 cup diced rutabaga, and 2 diced celery stalks to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Step 3: Stir in 3/4 cup pearled barley, coating it with the vegetable mixture. Pour in 6 cups vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender and the stew thickens.
- Step 5: Season with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill. Serve hot with crusty bread.








