Tried the lentil, split pea, pearl barley soup mix for the first time
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52213)
Staten Island, New York
July 22, 2019 6:48pm CST
I bought a natural soup mix recently. It contained pearl barley, green & yellow split peas, and green & red lentils. Nothing else was in the package. Not sure why they call it a soup mix, if there are no spices or any packets there to add to the soup.
There were no instructions on how to cook this stuff, except that it has to be thoroughly washed before making. They said it can be used in soup, casserole, and stew recipes.
I did not want to make any of these so didn't google any. I just wanted to eat them as they are so boiled them with some salt. I did not know how long to cook it for but it seems that everything has a different cooking time. Some stuff became mushy. Some was still a bit firm, like the pearl barley. If everything takes a different amount of time to cook why'd they put it all in one package? That just makes no sense. Unless I just don't know what I am doing.
When I bought this packet, the stuff looked all colorful. I anticipated the same colorful display on my plate when it was cooked. I was wrong. The cooked stuff looked like the color of vomit, and along with its consistency was very unappealing to the eye. On the plus side, the taste was good. My stomach, however, may not have agreed with what I was eating 'cause it seems now that I have gas.
8 people like this
8 responses
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
23 Jul 19
The peas and the lentils will give you gas. At least it tasted good!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
23 Jul 19
I am sorry. I don´t like to buy those mixtures because of what you are saying. I cook my own legumes, one by one, and then I mix them.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
I was attracted to the colors... so decided to try it. Now I know not to get something like this.
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
24 Jul 19
@lovebuglena I eat lentils, no problems with them, I have problems with beans and also barley.
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Jul 19
@LadyDuck I am not really a fan of lentil, split pea or beans. But sometimes I have lentil or bean soup and eat beans. But not often.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
I have no issue with sweet peas but maybe the split peas are not for me... or the lentils... I've never bought this kind of thing before and I will never buy again.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
Yep. But why is it that something so colorful doesn't stay that way as it cooks?
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@NJChicaa (127180)
• United States
23 Jul 19
@lovebuglena It happens. Same thing with broccoli, green beans, etc.
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
But this was not specifically for soup. And I did not buy this with the intention of making soup.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
23 Jul 19
That's a good try. We are not to buying soup mix.
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@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
23 Jul 19
There's not really any fixed time for cooking these soup mixes but they should be boiled/simmered for 20 mins at least. The red lentils will always disintegrate but the other pulses should be soft but keep their shape. Pearl barley should be soft but whole, like rice.
It's called a 'soup mix' because it's the basis of a hearty soup. I would soften some chopped onion first (and a crushed clove or two of garlic, if you like garlic) and, maybe some vegetables like carrot, celery and so on. Then add the soup mix and stock and salt and pepper to taste (stock is usually salty enough on its own), bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes until everything is cooked. You will have to experiment with the amount of water to get the consistency you like but one cup of soup mix will probably require at least 4 cups of water.
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
I did not get this to make soup. Just wanted to try this as a side dish to go along with chicken or some other meat. I was surprised that they didn't have cooking instructions on the box. It seems I cooked it for enough time to get soft but guess not. Thanks for the cooking suggestion...
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
23 Jul 19
sounds like quite alot in a soup maybe not the best so much
@lovebuglena (52213)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Jul 19
Maybe mixing so many not a good idea.
1 person likes this
