Barley Minestrone Soup

Name: Barley Minestrone Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Pearl barley 5.3 oz; Carrots 1; Celery 1 stalk; Onions 1; Potatoes 1; Bay leaves 2 leaves; Chives to chop 4 sprigs; Black pepper to taste; Fine salt to taste; Butter 1.4 oz; Extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp; Smoked pancetta 3.5 oz; Meat broth 4 &frac13; cups; Grana Padano PDO cheese grated to taste

385

Calories per serving

Energy Kcal 385
Carbohydrates g 34.4
of which sugars g 3.5
Protein g 13.2
Fats g 21.6
of which saturated fat g 9.11
Fiber g 5.1
Cholesterol mg 49
Sodium mg 1013

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Serving: 4 persone
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Barley minestrone is a traditional and time-honored dish originating from Trentino-Alto Adige region. It's crafted using pearled barley, finely diced vegetables, and smoked bacon, resulting in a truly unique and delightful flavor profile. This dish is notably heartier compared to the classic minestrone, thanks to the addition of chopped meat, making it a substantial and satisfying one-pot meal.

You might also want to explore the Genoese minestrone, a delicious variation that boasts the rich flavors of pesto!

INGREDIENTS

385

Calories per serving

Pearl barley 5.3 oz (150 g)

Carrots 1

Celery 1 stalk

Onions 1

Potatoes 1

Bay leaves 2 leaves

Chives 4 sprigs - to chop

Black pepper to taste

Fine salt to taste

Butter 1.4 oz (40 g)

Extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp

Smoked pancetta 3.5 oz (100 g)

Meat broth 4 ⅓ cups (1 l)

To season: Grana Padano PDO cheese to taste - grated

Preparation

How to prepare Barley Minestrone Soup

To prepare barley minestrone, start by peeling the vegetables (onion, carrot, celery, potato) and cutting them into small squares 1. Place the butter in a saucepan and when it's melted, add the onion and let it soften 2; then add the carrot and celery to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes 3.

Add the diced smoked bacon 4 and the barley, which you will have rinsed under running water and drained 5. Pour in 3 or 4 ladles of beef broth to the barley 6.

Then, add the bay leaves 7 and let the minestrone simmer over low heat until the barley is fully cooked. Be sure to add hot broth as needed. About 10 minutes before the cooking is complete, add diced potatoes.

Once it's cooked, turn off the heat, season with pepper, add the chopped chives 8, extra virgin olive oil 9, and adjust the salt to taste.

Serve immediately, and don't forget to bring some grated Grana Padano cheese to the table!