Tag Archives: Barley

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Every so often I make a recipe with my doctor in mind. She always tells me, “Less meat and more grain and greens.” Roman Grain and Greens soup is just what the doctor ordered. In addition to barley, lentils, split-peas, and chickpeas there are 5 kinds of greens.

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Ingredients:
  • 1⁄2 cup pearled barley
  • 1 cup yellow split peas
  • 1 cup lentils
  • 10 cups water or more
  • 1 14 oz. chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
  • 2 Tablespoons coloratura de alici
  • 1 large or 2 smaller leeks, white part and 3 inches of green part, split, rinsed and chopped
  • 3 cups coarsely chopped Savoy cabbage, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped parsley, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh dill, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped fennel leaves, packed
  • 1⁄2 cup olive oil
Place barley, peas and lentils in a heavy pot. Rinse and drain. Add water and bring to a boil. Skim off foam. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are becoming tender. Add water if too thick.

Meanwhile, prepare leeks, cabbage and greens. In a frying pan, cook them gently in olive oil until wilted.Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Add the chickpeas, salt, oregano, oregano, ground fennel and coloratura de alici to the soup. Simmer 5 minutes.Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Stir the greens into soup. Simmer, stirring frequently, just until cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes.
Taste, and add salt as needed.

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Irish Lamb Stew

Irish Lamb Stew

I got this recipe in the New York Daily News a while back. They published it a few days before Saint Patrick’s Day and I’ve always wondered how authentic it really is with olive oil, tomato paste and red wine as ingredients. Authentic or not it’s a tasty hearty stew.


Season room temperature lamb with salt and black pepper and coat with flour. Sear until browned and remove from pot. Add more oil and sweat onions, garlic and carrots – S&P.

Make a hot spot and caramelize tomato paste then mix. Add barley, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Deglaze pot with wine.

Return lamb, stocks and bouquet garni (3 sprigs each rosemary and thyme wrapped around 3 bay leaves.)

Simmer low for 45 minutes, covered. Check for seasoning. Remove bouquet garni and add potatoes and pearl onions and cook for another 30 minutes or until potatoes are done.


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