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Scotch Broth

5 from 2 votes

Posted: · Updated: · by ·

Scotch Broth, a humble potage of lamb, split peas, barley, and vegetables, fills my family's bellies in wintertime when the lingering cold and snow seem to draw out our strength and internal warmth.  Scotch Broth has long been a favorite of mine - thick with split peas and barley, flecked with long-simmered bits of tender lamb meat and ladled into waiting bowls.

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scotch broth
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5 from 2 votes
10 to 12 servings

Scotch Broth

This classic Scotch Broth, a satisfying and filling broth-based soup featuring kale, split peas, lamb and barley, comes.
Prep Time12 hours 5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time13 hours 35 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup hulled barley
  • 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup split peas
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 large lamb shank
  • 1 yellow onions (chopped)
  • 2 carrots (chopped)
  • 2 celery ribs (chopped)
  • 2 garlic cloves (sliced thin)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 12 cups water
  • 1 bunch kale
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the barley in a small bowl with about 1 cup warm water. Stir in cider vinegar. In a separate bowl, pour the split peas into a bowl and cover with warm water. Leave both bowls in a warm room for 12 to 24 hours. After the time has passed, drain the barley and the split peas, and rinse them well.
  • In a large pot, heat the butter over medium to medium-high heat. Add the lamb shanks to the pot and brown them on both sides, turning as needed. Room the lamb and set aside.
  • Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic to the pot, and saute for 5 minutes, stirring as needed to prevent burning.
  • Return the lamb to the pot and add the thyme, bay, and 12 cups water. Pour in the soaked split peas and barley. Bring the soup to a boil, turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until the lamb shanks are very tender and the meat is easy to pull off the bone. Remove the lamb shanks from the pot and let them cool.
  • While the lamb cools, stem the kale and chop it into bite-sized pieces Add the kale to the pot and simmer for 7 minutes or until the kale is soft.
  • Shred the lamb, and return it to the pot. Salt well, starting with 2 teaspoons, and add freshly ground pepper if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley, if you like, and serve.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jillian says

    5 stars
    I know this is terrifically old, but I wanted you to know that my teenager considers this their absolute favorite meal, and has requested it as a birthday meal for many years running. I am happy to oblige, as it's delicious, and it also freezes well, so it's a gift that keeps giving!

    I wonder, can you clarify "room the lamb"? Is that just a typo for "remove"?

    Reply

  2. KT says

    Recipe sounds amazing and just what I'm looking for. Curious though about a minor discrepancy. Ingredient list calls for 1 lamb shank, and the instructions consistently refer to shanks in the plural.
    One or two?

    Reply

  3. Raelene Hayes says

    Glad I found this recipe, thank you!

    Reply

  4. Liz Hartwell says

    I love this recipe! I have a gluten sensitivity which i am not very respectful of, and used barley the few times I have made this. The barley apparently is offensive to my GI system. So this time I am going to use farro perlato in place of the barley. Its not gluten free, but low in gluten and apparently better digested by folks who have gluten sensitivities. I will let you know how it turns out.

    Also, I added some extra butter and a little half and half at the end. You can also use cheese rinds in the simmering part to add some extra richness. One time I added some fancy mushrooms which made it very good too. The wonderful thing about this recipie is that you can modify it for your own needs and its awesome no matter what.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe, its one of the staples in my house!

    Reply

  5. Stephanie says

    what would be a good substitute for lamb? Would a certain cut of grass fed beef work?

    Reply

  6. Amanda says

    I'm a vegetarian, so I'll be leaving out the lamb, but I can't wait to try this soup! The barley + split peas combination sounds perfect. 🙂

    Reply

  7. Garage Gyms says

    I've always been reluctant to buy lamb since I never knew what to even do with it. Considering the weather as of late (cold in Texas!) this is the perfect time to give lamb a shot. This looks really good.

    Reply

  8. Christina @But I'm Hungry says

    This looks wonderful. I'll be making it as soon as I can get my hands on some decent lamb. The farmer that we get our pasture-raised meat from isn't making another delivery until the end of March... and I don't know if I can wait until then!

    Reply

  9. Alicia says

    This was delicious! As soon as I read the recipe I went on a hunt for the ingredients. So good! Thanks.

    Reply

  10. Adriana@WearEatLove says

    This is a real comfort food! I love it! Still looking for a farmers market nearby.

    Reply

  11. Marilyn says

    If one cannot tolerate grains, what would be a good substitute for the barley?

    Reply

    • Lisa says

      I was thinking the same thing. I'd happily eat it in summer too.

  12. Sonii Nagel says

    We raise grass fed dorper sheep and cattle south east of Austin, Tx. I will try this recipe. Lamb shanks and lentils or peas are such a great combination 🙂

    Reply

  13. Janel @ Creating Tasty Stories says

    This winter feels like it will never end. I've been craving soup to counteract the endless cycles of extreme cold in between snow storms. I've never tried Scotch Broth. It sounds very hearty and comforting. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply

  14. jessica says

    My family really does not like lamb, but the rest of the soup sounds amazing. What would be a good substitute?

    Reply

    • Leesie says

      Grassfed lamb tastes nothing like you would find in the supermarket, it is much milder tasting. This recipe sounds absolutely delicious and is also a good reminder to pick up a copy of Kimi's book! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  15. Chrissy says

    This looks divine and so perfect for the season. The ACV is a unique addition- will definitely be trying it!

    Reply

  16. Buffy says

    in the directions for this recipe, last sentence of bullet point #2 says "Room the lamb and set aside"...what does this mean exactly? is that like tenting your steak once pulled off the heat to let the ambient temps continue to cook it?

    Reply

    • Jenny says

      It means to take it out of the pan while you saute the vegetables.

    • Ali says

      "Room" = "remove".