OV9

Mrs mik makes a range of most excellent soups.

Yesterday’s concoction included barley, and I discovered that barley may well be the marmite of the soup world….

Personally I love the texture, and the fact you kind of have to chew your soup. Others at the table were less keen, citing textural issues. The table was devoid of barley ambivalence.

Like many of these things, it's context dependent. I like a chunky soup but it can make a soup too filling - you start to become a watery risotto at some point. A lighter soup can be better.

A good chicken barley soup is amazing, deffo one of those perfect hearty winter warmers especially if you get to make the stock yourself, it's next leve.

mik wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 9:15 am Mrs mik makes a range of most excellent soups.

Yesterday’s concoction included barley, and I discovered that barley may well be the marmite of the soup world….

Personally I love the texture, and the fact you kind of have to chew your soup. Others at the table were less keen, citing textural issues. The table was devoid of barley ambivalence.

If you have to chew it, is it a stew, not a soup?

Sounds good to me, the more like a proper meal a soup is the better.

Scotch broth is supposed to have barley in it and is lovely. I have no idea anyone would consider it offensive.

Soup is like food when you take away all the good bits.

Dave!

I love a soup or stew in winter and have made one pretty much every week recently to get my weight down and control my mid week eating.

Chicken Leek and Barley was controversial here as well. Me and my son loved it but the girls were unsure rather than disliked it. The texture is unlike other savoury foods almost like a nutty wine gum or midget gem

V8Granite wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:28 am Soup is like food when you take away all the good bits.

Dave!

Yeah, i’m with you on that.

I prefer a soup that you can use your teeth with. Rest of the household prefers baby food.

Jobbo wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:20 am Scotch broth is supposed to have barley in it and is lovely. I have no idea anyone would consider it offensive.

This, but louder.

If you think that barley shouldn't be in soup, know that I am judging you.