Skip to main content

Scotch Broth

3.5

(5)

While my brother and I were growing up, my mother made this soup in large quantities, always leaving plenty for freezing. Whenever my parents went out without us, Mom pulled out one of the many frozen tubs of this stew, which my brother and I nicknamed "Witches' Brew." I've hated it for as long as I can remember. I didn't start eating soup again until I was in my late 20s, and I still dislike stewed meat and cooked carrots. I blame it all on Scotch Broth.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

A leg of lamb bone, cracked (with meat on it)
2 or 3 medium onions, whole
6 stalks of celery, diced
6 carrots, diced
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup pearl barley
salt, pepper, parsley, and some celery leaves

Preparation

  1. Wash barley first. Put in kettle and add other ingredients. Cover with water. Cook slowly at least four hours. Soup should cook down until quite thick. Refrigerate for at least four hours. Add water when reheating to serve. Correct seasoning at that time and remove meat bone and celery leaves before serving.

Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
The secret to juicy grilled chicken, a sheet-cake swap for banana pudding, and more reasons to light up the grill and have people over all summer long.