Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Prepare the butternut squash by pealing it and cutting off both ends. Carefully cut the squash in half and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.
1 small Butternut Squash
Cut the squash in bite sized pieces and place on the prepared sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the pieces over half way through.
2 tablespoon Olive Oil
Prepare and chop celery, carrots, bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Roughly chop the Swiss chard in bite sized pieces and keep separate from the other vegetables.
2 pieces Carrots, 2 ribs Celery, 1 medium Yellow Onion, 4 cloves Garlic, ½ large Bell Pepper
Place a large Dutch oven or soup pot on medium heat. Drizzle in the olive oil and add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and bell pepper pieces. Sprinkle in the salt and cumin. Cook until the onions are translucent.
2 teaspoon Cumin, 3 teaspoon Salt
Add the pearl barley to the soup pot and deglaze it by pouring in all of the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook on low until the barley is tender, about 30 minutes.
½ cup Pearl Barley, 8 cups Chicken Broth
Remove the soup from the heat and right away stir in the pieces of Swiss chard, followed by the roasted cubes of butternut squash. Adjust the seasoning, serve, and enjoy!
2 cups Swiss Chard