Description
Jamie oliver’s pearl barley soup brings hearty comfort to winter meals with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients. Rustic vegetables and creamy textures create a nourishing bowl of warmth you’ll savor until the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.8 liters (7.6 cups) stock (veggie, chicken, or water)
- 200 g (7.1 oz) pearl barley
- 150 g (5.3 oz) chorizo, roughly chopped
- 2 onions, roughly chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
- 1 can whole tomatoes
- Cabbage or kale, roughly chopped
- 2 bay leaves (dried or fresh)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Flavor Activation: Sear chorizo in olive oil until golden, releasing its smoky essence and creating a rich foundational flavor profile.
- Vegetable Infusion: Add onions, carrots, and celery to the pan, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and develop a soft, aromatic character.
- Barley and Herb Integration: Introduce bay leaves and pearl barley, stirring to coat with the developing flavor base, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Liquid Foundation: Crush tomatoes directly into the pan, pour stock, and bring the mixture to a robust boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Texture Development: Allow soup to cook for 35-40 minutes, enabling barley to absorb liquid and become tender while developing complex flavor layers.
- Final Enhancement: Fold in cabbage or kale, use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup for added creaminess, then season with salt and black pepper.
- Flavor Completion: Simmer for an additional 3-5 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and reach perfect cooking consistency.
Notes
- Maximize Flavor Depth: Sauté chorizo first to release its smoky oils, creating a rich flavor foundation that enhances the entire soup’s taste profile.
- Perfect Barley Texture: Stir barley thoroughly to coat it with oils, ensuring even cooking and preventing clumping during the simmering process.
- Blending Technique: Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, creating a luxurious, creamy texture while maintaining the soup’s hearty character.
- Seasoning Timing: Add salt and pepper at the end of cooking to balance flavors and prevent over-salting during the long simmering process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg