Winter Hardy Spiced Lentil-Barley Soup Recipe
Overview:
Warm up your winter evenings with this hearty and flavorful Winter Hardy Spiced Lentil-Barley Soup. Packed with wholesome ingredients and aromatic spices, this soup is not only delicious but also incredibly nourishing. Perfect for cozy nights in or for sharing with loved ones during the holiday season, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your home.
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 6
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Italian sausage |
| 1 | Onion |
| 3 cloves | Garlic |
| 1/3 cup | Pearl barley |
| 8 cups | Chicken broth |
| 1/2 cup | Fresh parsley |
| 1 | Chicken breast |
| 1 cup | Lentils |
| 1 can | Garbanzo beans |
| 1 cup | Mild salsa |
| 1 | Bunch of fresh spinach |
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 490
- Total Fat: 20.4g
- Saturated Fat: 6.4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 2046.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 37.6g
- Fiber: 9.5g
- Sugars: 4.8g
- Protein: 39.5g
Instructions:
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Begin by preparing your ingredients. Remove the casing from the Italian sausage and crumble the meat into a 5- to 6-quart pan placed over medium-high heat. Stir the sausage often until it’s nicely browned and cooked through.
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Once the sausage is browned, remove it from the pan using a slotted spoon, and set it aside for later use.
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In the same pan with the sausage drippings, add the diced onion, minced garlic, and pearl barley. Cook this mixture, stirring often, until the onion becomes translucent and the barley is toasted, releasing its nutty aroma.
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Pour in the chicken broth, add the fresh parsley, whole chicken breast, and lentils to the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to simmer. Allow it to cook for about 30 minutes or until the chicken breast is cooked through and no longer pink in the thickest part.
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Once the chicken breast is cooked, remove it from the pan and let it cool slightly. Discard the skin and bones, then shred the meat using two forks.
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Return the shredded chicken to the pan with the soup mixture.
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Drain the garbanzo beans and add them to the soup along with the mild salsa and the cooked Italian sausage.
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Heat the soup over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer, allowing all the flavors to meld together beautifully.
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While the soup is simmering, roughly chop the fresh spinach and stir it into the soup during the final minutes of cooking.
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Once the spinach has wilted and the soup is heated through, it’s ready to be served.
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Ladle the Winter Hardy Spiced Lentil-Barley Soup into bowls, and garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.
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Serve hot and enjoy the comforting warmth and rich flavors of this nourishing soup with your loved ones.
Recipe Notes:
- This soup is even more delicious when served with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
- Feel free to adjust the spice level by adding more or less salsa according to your preference.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage. Just reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
