Winter Veggie Stew with Root Vegetables and Barley

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

A hearty winter stew combining tender root vegetables and nutty barley simmered in a savory broth spiced with warming herbs. This Mediterranean soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 65 minutes, pairs pearl barley, carrots, and parsnips for a weeknight-friendly dinner. 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 pearl barley
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced 1/2-inch
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled and diced 1/2-inch
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• 1 bay leaf

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 1 large chopped yellow onion, 2 diced celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 2 diced carrots and 2 diced parsnips to the pot, stirring for 3 minutes until lightly browned and aromatic.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3/4 cup pearl barley, coating the grains in the oil and vegetables for 2 minutes.
4. Step 4: Pour in 6 cups vegetable broth, then add 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender and the stew has thickened.
6. Step 6: Season with salt and black pepper to taste, removing the bay leaf before serving. Serve hot for a comforting winter meal.