Ancient Grain Pigeon Broth
Game meat, toasted barley, and warm spices over cold nights. A four-thousand-year-old soup, stripped for the trail.
- calories
- 480
- weight
- 2.4 oz
- cal / oz
- 200
- protein
- 38 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 5 min
- cook
- 30 min
- total time
- 35 min
- water
- 450 ml boiled
- cost
- $$
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Campfire coals
- Backpacking
- Car camping
- Basecamp
- Winter / snow
- Dairy free
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Dried game meat | 1.25 oz | dehydrated pigeon, quail, or venison; or crumbled jerky |
|---|---|---|
| Hulled barley | 1/2 oz | toast it at home for 15–20 minutes at 325°F until golden, then cool and pack |
| Dried onion | 1 tbsp | or 2 tbsp dried leeks if you can find them |
| Dried garlic | 1/2 tsp | or one small clove fresh if car-camping |
| Ground cumin | 1/4 tsp | |
| Ground coriander | 1/4 tsp | |
| Dried cilantro or ramp leaves | 1 tbsp | for finishing; optional |
| Olive oil or lard | 1 tbsp | carried in a small container |
| Salt and pepper | to taste | |
| Vinegar | 1/4 tsp | or a splash of whatever you have |
Method
- Boil 450 ml of water.
- Drop in the dried game meat and barley. Simmer 20 minutes.
- Add the onion, garlic, cumin, and coriander. Simmer 10 more minutes until barley softens.
- Stir in the oil. Season with salt, pepper, and vinegar.
- Top with cilantro if you have it. Eat hot.
Dried game meat, toasted barley, and warm spices replace the fresh ingredients of the original. The barley thickens broth and adds body that stock alone cannot carry—toast it at home for depth that raw grain will never reach.
The oil is not optional. It carries both flavor and calories into cold nights, turning thin broth into a meal substantial enough to warm you through. If you cannot source dehydrated game meat, jerky crumbled into the pot works just as well.
Packing
Mix dried onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, and cilantro into one small bag. Pack barley and game meat separately or together. Oil rides in its own dropper bottle. Toast the barley at home before packing.
Variations
- Use chicken jerky or dried chicken if game meat is not available.
- Add a splash of beer in car camp versions for depth; the alcohol cooks off.
- Fresh garlic, leeks, or chives replace their dried versions if you have access to them.
https://foragerchef.com/sumerian-pigeon-soup