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Barley and Lentil Soup

Zuppa d'Orzo e Lenticchie

Mary Ann Esposito

Barley and Lentil soup is hardy and nutritious;make it in a crock pot. Buy your lentils where the turnover is high so they haven't been sitting on a shelf for years. Don't add any additional salt to the soup while it is cooking, and don't add lentils to already boiling water as both can make lentils tough.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 cup brown lentils
1/2 cup pearled barley
5 to 6 fresh basil leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 sprigs fresh parsley
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped fennel (plus feathery leaftops)
1 cup chopped onion
2 minced garlic cloves
1 whole bay leaf
One 28 ounce can crushed plum tomatoes withjuice
Juice 1 large lemon
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions

Rinse and sort the lentils. Add lentils and barley to a crock pot. Tie the herbs together with cooking string and add to pot along with all the rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Cover and cook on low heat for 12 to 14 hours, or on high heat for 5 to 6 hours.

Discard bay leaf and tied bunch of herbs. Serve hot and pass cheese on side.

This recipe is featured on show 1921 - Know YourGrains.

item recipe is featured in Episode 1921 of Season 19.

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Comments

CHICKI

April 4, 2011 at 4:53pm | Permalink

I LOVE THE BARLEY AND LENTIL SOUP. HOWEVER, I WOULD TELL PEOPLE TO MODIFY THE RECIPE IF THEY ARE GOING TO USE A CROCK POT. I FOLLOWED THE RECIPE AND MY CROCK POT OVER FLOWED. I MADE A SECOND BATCH IN A LARGE DUTCH OVEN AND GOT BETTER RESULTS AND LESS COOKING TIME. I ALSO SUBSTITUTED PEELED SLICED PLUM TOMATOES THE SECOND TIME FOR THE CRUSHED TOMATOES. THE SECOND BATCH WAS BY FAR THE BETTER OF THE TWO ATTEMPTS. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS SOUP IS GREAT ALL BY ITSELF. ACCOMPANIED BY CRUSTY BREAD IT IT'S FANTASTIC!

Millie Loffredo

March 17, 2013 at 8:30pm | Permalink

Would it be possible to get your recipe for Hot Cross Buns. I saw it on face book and can't get it off your website.

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CHICKI

April 4, 2011 at 4:53pm | Permalink

I LOVE THE BARLEY AND LENTIL SOUP. HOWEVER, I WOULD TELL PEOPLE TO MODIFY THE RECIPE IF THEY ARE GOING TO USE A CROCK POT. I FOLLOWED THE RECIPE AND MY CROCK POT OVER FLOWED. I MADE A SECOND BATCH IN A LARGE DUTCH OVEN AND GOT BETTER RESULTS AND LESS COOKING TIME. I ALSO SUBSTITUTED PEELED SLICED PLUM TOMATOES THE SECOND TIME FOR THE CRUSHED TOMATOES. THE SECOND BATCH WAS BY FAR THE BETTER OF THE TWO ATTEMPTS. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS SOUP IS GREAT ALL BY ITSELF. ACCOMPANIED BY CRUSTY BREAD IT IT'S FANTASTIC!
Millie Loffredo

March 17, 2013 at 8:30pm | Permalink

Would it be possible to get your recipe for Hot Cross Buns. I saw it on face book and can't get it off your website.