Grisons Barley Soup
Grisons barley soup is a hearty Swiss classic made with pearl barley, Bündnerfleisch air-dried beef, leek, carrot and celeriac. The Thermomix TM7 simmers everything gently in one bowl, developing deep Alpine flavours while the barley turns tender and the whipping cream adds a silky finish to this comforting soup.
About this recipe
Grisons barley soup Thermomix TM7 brings the heart of the Swiss Alps straight to your kitchen table. This traditional barley soup recipe from the Graubünden region combines pearl barley, thinly sliced Bündnerfleisch air-dried beef, leek, carrot and celeriac into a bowl of pure comfort. Searching for recipes with your all-in-one kitchen machine often leads to simple blends, but this one shows what the TM7 truly can do: the vegetables are chopped evenly, sautéed in unsalted butter and then the soup simmers gently while the barley slowly releases its starch, naturally thickening the broth. A swirl of whipping cream and homemade vegetable stock paste round out the flavour with a silky, restaurant-quality finish. Serve it as a warming quick weeknight dinner or as an impressive starter for guests; either way, this Alpine classic disappears fast, and you barely had to stir.
Preparation tips
- Cut the Bündnerfleisch into thin matchsticks and add it only at the end, so the air-dried beef keeps its delicate texture and doesn't toughen in the hot barley soup.
- Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly before adding it to the mixing bowl; this removes excess starch and keeps the soup from becoming gluey while still naturally thickened.
- For a deeper flavour, let the chopped onion, leek and celeriac sauté in the unsalted butter until fragrant before adding the water and stock paste; a splash of cream at the end balances the saltiness.
Recipe variations
- Vegetarian Grisons soup: replace the Bündnerfleisch with smoked tofu strips or dried mushrooms and use vegetable stock paste only; the pearl barley and celeriac still deliver the hearty, rustic character.
- Lactose-free version: swap the unsalted butter for olive oil and replace the whipping cream with oat cream; the leek and carrot keep the soup aromatic and the barley provides the creamy body.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Precise weighing - The built-in scale of the Thermomix weighs pearl barley and water directly in the mixing bowl, saving dirty measuring cups. [Built-in scale]. [Precision Control]
- Fine chopping - The Thermomix chops onion, leek and celeriac uniformly in seconds, ensuring even cooking without tears. [Time saving]. [Time Savings]
- Gentle simmering - The TM7 simmers the barley soup at controlled low temperature, developing deep Alpine flavour without burning. [Temperature control]. [Precision Control]
- Hands-free cooking - The Thermomix stirs the simmering soup automatically while the Bündnerfleisch and toppings are being prepared. [Hands-free]. [Hands-Free]
- Creamy emulsifying - The Thermomix blends whipping cream into the hot soup until velvety, giving a restaurant-style silky finish. [Multi-functionality]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- onions
- carrot
- leek
- celeriac
- Bündnerfleisch
- unsalted butter
- pearl barley
- water
- vegetable stock paste, homemade
- whipping cream