Tuscan Barley Soup Recipes

MOM'S ITALIAN BEEF BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a slow cooker, combine beef, water, bouillon, onion, tomato sauce, barley, salt and pepper.
• Cover, and cook on Low for 5 hours.

RICH BEEF BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the oxtails, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until browned all over. Remove the oxtails with a slotted spoon and reserve.
• Add the leeks, carrots, onion, celery, and garlic to the fat in the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, until the vegetables start to brown. Tie the thyme sprigs together with kitchen string and add to the pot along with the bay leaves. Return the oxtails to the pot and add the broth, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Discard the thyme bundle and the bay leaves, and skim off the fat.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the barley. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, drain, and set aside.
• When the soup is ready, add the barley and cook the soup for another 15 or 20 minutes, until the barley is tender. Depending on the saltiness of the stock, the soup might need another teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Serve hot, with or without the oxtails.

TUSCAN BEAN AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add pancetta and saute until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels; set aside.
• Add onion, carrot, celery, and fennel to the pot; saute until softened, about 6 minutes.
• Add beans, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, and about 6 cups water, or as much as is needed to cover the beans by about 2 inches; bring to a boil.
• Decrease heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Discard rosemary, sage, and thyme sprigs.
• Meanwhile, cook barley according to package directions and set aside.
• Using an immersion blender, or in a food processor or blender in batches, puree soup until smooth.
• Return to the pot, if necessary.
• Add barley and pancetta; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into heated bowls, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with Parmesan curls.

ITALIAN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Bring soup stock and water to a boil in a large stockpot.
• Reduce heat and add barley, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, red wine, lemon, pepper, and salt.
• Cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent barley from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Add the herbs, tomatoes, and tomato paste and cook for 1 more hour.
• Leave the lid on during cooking and occasionally check to see if you need to add water.
• Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese before serving.

TUSCAN FARRO SOUP

Steps:

• Put oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium heat; a minute later add onion, celery, carrots, a large pinch of salt and some pepper. Cook until vegetables are glossy and onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, and stir; add farro, beans, tomatoes and stock, and stir.
• Bring to a boil, then adjust heat so mixture simmers steadily. Cook until farro and beans are tender, at least an hour, adding stock or water as necessary if mixture becomes too thick. Stir in parsley and basil (if using), then cook another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve with lots of Parmesan.

SAUSAGE BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, onion, and garlic until the sausage is evenly brown. Season with Italian seasoning. Remove from heat, and drain.
• In a slow cooker, mix the sausage mixture, chicken broth, carrot, spinach, and barley.
• Cover, and cook 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.