Makes 5 cups - 4 servings
During my travels to Asia, I came to love miso for its wonderful salty depth, texture, and rich flavor. Marrying it with Riesling's unique fruity character creates a uniquely flavorful vegetable-barley soup.
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1/3 cup barley (either regular or quick-cooking barley)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 ½ cups finely chopped onion
3 cups sliced cremini mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
½ cup Riesling or other medium-bodied, high-acid, semi-sweet white wine
3 ½ cups hot water
¼ cup brown miso
2 carrots, finely chopped
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
Finely chopped scallions, green parts only, for garnish
Cook the barley according to package instructions. (One-third cup uncooked barley yields 1 cup cooked.)
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and ginger; cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low; add the wine. Use a spoon to stir, scraping up the browned juices on the bottom of the pan.
Combine the hot water and miso in a small bowl; whisk until the miso is dissolved. Add to the mushroom mixture. Stir in the carrots and the cooked barley.
Increase the heat to high; when the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer the soup until the carrots are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Sprinkle the servings with scallions.