Help, Soup Mix!

hollydays

Ok-thanks to all.

terrimolo

Hi,
I bought a bag of broth mix from Aldi, but it doesn't come with any instructions. It's got pearl barley, red lentils, yellow and green split peas and marrowfat peas. I haven't cooked any of these things before, so have no idea, should this be soaked? do ihave to boil and then rinse it before i put it in soup or what? i havent a clue! any ideas appreciated, thank you!

Olliebeak

I've not used that particular brand before - but the one I use regularly needs soaking overnight for about 8 - 10 hours. I then drain, it and rinse a couple of times to get the cloudiness out of the water. Let it drain a final time and then add it to whatever you're cooking. I put it into the slow cooker with other ingredients and it works fine. You could also just use it on top of the cooker, in casseroles, soups and in the pressur cooker.

Just be aware not to use too much - it does swell up during soaking and again during cooking!!!

parsonswife8

I would start it off to soak in boiling water and leave over night then rinse a few times before cooking it. It needs to soften a bit before using.

victotoro

I just dump it in the soup straight from the packet and cook until the barley is done - everything else is soft by that time.

I should say that this takes about 40 minutes - 1 hour on top of the stove at simmering heat.

Hope this helps.

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, there :beer: I'll add this to the existing thread on using broth mixes.

Penny. x

freyasmum

Broth mix needs to be soaked overnight and rinsed in the morning. After that I always just add it into the soup, I don't boil it before hand.

FairyElephant_2

Hi All,

I am really stuck with dried soup mix! I thought it would be good to add to casseroles, 'bolognaise' etc as a change from pearl barley & porridge oats which normally use....

The problem is that I can't get the lentils and dried split peas to go soft and DH moans about them every time (I have to say I'm not keen on them 'crunchy' either!). I have tried soaking it 24 hours in cold water, or pre-boiling the soup mix for about 45mins before I add it to the dish, but although the pearl barley and oats & other stuff are all fine, the lentils & peas are still hard.

Anyone have any ideas to help please?

Thanks,

FE

misskool

pressure cooker for about 5 minutes if you have one?

I think there's a tip about not salting lentils the stock you are cooking lentils in until they are soft but I'm not sure if that's a myth or real.

Pink.

Hi FairyElephant,

I don't normally pre-soak soup mix but I do find it takes longer for the peas to cook than the barley, lentils etc. If you have tried pre-soaking and cooking for longer I'm not sure what else you can do. What brand is it that you're using? Could that be the problem?

The replies on this earlier thread may help:

Help, soup mix!

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink