Krupnik (Barley Soup)

Description: This soup like other Poland’s soups is comprised of easily found ingredients in Poland including barley, carrots, and potato. Rather than being a soup based on noodles it is a soup more based on barley. It can be often made from either vegetable or meat broth. It is often made with chicken as well which gives it a chicken soup kind of taste but without the noodles. It’s ingredients aren’t hard to find which contributes to the popularity it has in any Polish kitchen.

Ingredients:

2 chicken wings

2 vegetable cubes (10 g each)

2 chicken cubes (10 g each)

3 l of boiling water

1 parsnip (halved)

1 large leek (halved)

piece of celeriac root, about 50 g (cut in half)

250 g wheat barley

3 large potatoes(cubed)

3 carrots (diced)

5 – 6 bay leaves

handful of fresh, chopped parsley

2 tbs dried marjoram

1 tbs garlic powder or some fresh one

sea salt

black peppercorns

Directions:

1. Place chicken wings in large pot together with water, leek, parsnip, celeriac, bay leaves and cubes.

2. Bring to boil, simmer covered for about 30 minutes or until chicken is ready.

3. Remove chicken/bones and vegetables from the pot, leave aside.

4. Strain the stock and return to the pot.

5. Add garlic, half of the marjoram, barley, potatoes, carrots, parsley and cook on medium fire until barley and potatoes are ready.

6. Add the rest of marjoram and cook few minutes longer.

7. Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked pepper and serve.