Gerstensuppe

Name: Gerstensuppe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Swiss
Ingredients: 150g pearl barley; 100g dried beef (Bündnerfleisch), diced; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1 leek, sliced; 1 onion, diced; 2 medium potatoes, cubed; 1.5L beef broth; 100ml cream; 2 tbsp butter; Bay leaf, thyme; Salt and pepper

Bündner Gerstensuppe (GEHR-sten-ZOO-peh)

Barley Soup

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 274 kcal

A thick, nourishing Graubünden barley soup simmered with root vegetables, dried beef, and cream — the ultimate Alpine warmer.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 14.0g

Carbs 32.0g

Fat 10.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

large pot ladle cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: ceramic soup bowl

Garnishes: fresh herbs, cream swirl

Accompaniments: crusty bread

Ingredients

150g pearl barley
100g dried beef (Bündnerfleisch), diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 leek, sliced
1 onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1.5L beef broth
100ml cream
2 tbsp butter
Bay leaf, thyme
Salt and pepper

Instructions

1
Rinse barley under cold water. Soak for 1 hour if time allows.
2
Melt butter in a large pot. Sauté onion, carrots, celery, and leek for 5 min.
3
Add barley, broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 hour.
4
Add potatoes and diced dried beef. Simmer another 20 min.
5
Stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper.
6
Remove bay leaf. Serve in deep bowls with crusty bread.

💡

Did You Know?

In Graubünden, no mountain hut menu is complete without Gerstensuppe — it has sustained Alpine hikers and farmers for centuries.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
ladle
cutting board

Garnishing

fresh herbs, cream swirl

Accompaniments

crusty bread

The Story Behind Gerstensuppe

Bündner Gerstensuppe is the quintessential soup of Graubünden, Switzerland's largest and most mountainous canton. Pearl barley thrives at high altitude, and combined with local dried beef and root vegetables, it creates a soup of extraordinary depth and sustenance. This soup has been the daily staple of Alpine farming communities for generations and remains one of the most authentic expressions of Swiss mountain cooking.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch, winter 📜 Origins: Traditional Alpine

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