Barley Soup with Sausages (Minestra d'Orzo)

 From: Joy of Cooking cookbook

Ingredients:

• 6 oz deeply smoked sausages
• 16 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 1 1/4 cups pearl barley
• 2 large bay leaves, crumbled
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 large head green cabbage, chopped
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 large celery stalk with leaves, finely chopped
• 3 Tbsp tightly packed fresh parsley leaves, minced
• Two 3-inch sprigs fresh rosemary, or 2 tsp dried
• 3 Tbsp tightly packed fresh marjoram leaves, minced, or 1 Tbsp dried
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2 red or white new potatoes, peeled and diced
• salt and pepper

In a medium skillet, or on a grill, brown the sausages until brown on all sides and heated through. Slice them thinly and place in a large soup pot along with the chicken stock, barley, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat in a large skillet over medium heat the olive oil. Add the cabbage. Cook, stirring, until the cabbage begins to color, 5-10 minutes. Add the onions, carrot, celery, parsley and rosemary. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are browned, 10-15 minutes.

Stir in the marjoram and garlic. Add 1 cup liquid from the soup pot and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits. Stir the contents of the skillet into the soup pot along with the potatoes. Cover and simmer gently until the barley is tender but not mushy and the potatoes are cooked but firm, about 30 minutes more.

If the soup is too thick, thin with water as needed. Season with salt and pepper if you like. Ladle into warmed bowls and you may also sprinkle each serving with shredded provolone or Montasio cheese.

Verdict: Delicious! Really easy to make. I used sausage that was a bit spicy which added to the flavor in my opinion!