Tomato-Barley Soup or Tomato-Quinoa Soup (Gluten free option)

We enjoyed a new plant-based meal today.  It is easy and inexpensive.  In fact, I used leftover stir-fried vegetables and tomato juice that I drained from diced tomatoes, yesterday.  I remember when I was a little girl, my grandma showed me a container of leftover vegetables that she kept in her freezer.  Then, when she made soup, she had some vegetables all ready to add.  Quick and easy, just the way I love to cook!

This recipe was adapted from The Imus Ranch:  Cooking for Kids and Cowboys by Deirdre Imus.  Here at River Valley Ranch, my kids loved it!  They said it reminded them of our famous chuck wagon stew.

Tomato-Barley Soup 
Tomato-Quinoa recipe at the bottom (gluten free)

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
(or  2 cups of leftover vegetables)

8 cups vegetable broth
2 cups tomato juice
1/2 cup barley, rinsed
1/4 cup buckwheat groats (these are a complete protein, but are optional)

3 Tbsp. white whole-wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper (optional)
fresh or dried basil, to taste

1.  Heat olive oil in large pan over medium heat.  Add vegetables and saute until tender.  (Or get out your leftover vegetables).

2.  Place the vegetables in a food processor or blender with 1 cup broth.  Return the vegetables to the pan and add broth, juice, barley, buckwheat groats, and hominy.  Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes.

3.  Stir flour in a cup with about 1/2 cup of water, until smooth.  Then, spoon more and more hot broth into the cup, stirring.  Then add the flour mixture to the hot soup, stirring, until thick.  Add spices, take off heat, and serve.

I served the soup with a green salad and 100% Whole-wheat bread, made in the bread machine.  Easy and delicious!

Gluten Free Option:
Change barley to quinoa, which is gluten free.
Change the whole-wheat flour to buckwheat flour, also gluten free.
I tried this when my brother and sister-in-law were at our home this past weekend.  The added red pepper really has a great flavor.