Barley cuchuco is a traditional soup of central Colombia, very popular on cold days. Made with barley, vegetables, and pork, it is a thick, hearty soup served as a complete meal.
Its comforting flavor and thick texture capture the essence of mountain cooking on the Colombian highlands.
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Colombian Barley Cuchuco
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: Colombian
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds pork ribs or pork backbone (espinazo)
- 10 cups water
- ½ cup pearl barley, washed and soaked
- 2 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 medium red potatoes, peeled and diced
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 cebolla larga (long green onion) stalks, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon achiote seasoning (sazón con achiote)
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 2 cups chopped cabbage
- ½ cup green peas
- ½ cup carrots, diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
- Cook the barley with the pork. Blend the onion, garlic, cebolla larga, and bell pepper with a little water. Place the ribs, water, bouillon cube, barley, and the blended mixture in a large pot, and bring to a boil. Add the salt, lower the heat to medium-low, and cook for 50 minutes.
- Add the vegetables. Add the potatoes, cabbage, peas, carrots, achiote seasoning, and cumin; cover and cook 25 minutes more, or until the meat is cooked.
- Finish and serve. Add the cilantro and serve hot in deep bowls.
Note: For this recipe, use pearl barley that has been previously washed and soaked. The soaking time is not included in the total time shown.
Cooking Tips
Use pearl barley that has already been washed and soaked.
Cook over medium-low heat, uncovered; a pressure cooker cuts the cooking time by about 30 minutes.
For a thicker soup, cook the barley a little longer.
Traditional Variations
It can be made with pork backbone (espinazo) instead of ribs, or with beef or chicken.
Some versions include fresh fava beans along with the peas.
Traditional Serving Style
Barley cuchuco is served hot in a deep bowl with sliced avocado. If you like, add chopped tomato on top.
Recommended Side Dishes
- Avocado
- Colombian ají (hot sauce)
- Chopped tomato
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is the grain: barley cuchuco is made with barley and wheat cuchuco with cracked wheat. The rest of the recipe, with pork, potatoes, and vegetables, is very similar.
Yes. Although pork ribs or backbone are the most common choice, it can also be made with beef or chicken.
Yes. Refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking, eat it within 3 to 4 days, and reheat leftovers to 74 °C (165 °F). When reheating, you may need to add a little water.
Barley releases starches during cooking, which naturally thicken the broth.
