Scotch Broth Soup

Uses Shoulder Chops or Stew Meat

A fall and winter favorite here at our farm, Scotch Broth Soup is total comfort food. The smooth taste of the lamb stock mixed with winter root veggies can’t be beat. I use our shoulder chops for the meat and add a few extra bones if I have them to make a richer stock. Resist the temptation to increase the barley - you don’t need a lot and it will swell by the second day. In fact, when re-heating, you may find it necessary to add a little water. This soup also freezes well.

1 Tablespoon butter or olive oil
1 pound lamb stew meat or shoulder chops (the bones add extra flavor)
2 leeks - white part only sliced thin
1 onion - chopped
2 sticks celery
2 large potatoes or 4 small
2 small turnips or parsnips (or both!)
3 to 4 large carrots
1/ 2 cup pearl barley
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the stew meat in a large soup pot.

While meat mixture is browning, prepare the vegetables. Chop the onion. Cut the leek into thin slices. Chop the celery. Peel the turnips, carrots, and potatoes. Chop turnips, carrots and potatoes into pieces all the same size so they will cook at an equal rate.

Add vegetables to the browned lamb.

Cover with water. Bring to a boil, then lower immediately to a simmer. After five minutes, add the barley, veggies, herbs and salt and pepper. Cover and cook until barley is tender - about 45 minutes. Remove bones from shoulder chops if necessary. Serve immediately. This soup, as with most, will taste better the second day. It will be necessary to add some water when re-heating as the barley will swell. This soup freezes nicely too.