Stracciatella with Chicken and Barley

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 40 min
This soup is light, yet hearty, making it perfect for the ever-changing weather of spring. Escarole is an often over-looked green, but it's always available and is very forgiving, easy to cook and adds a slight note of bitterness to this otherwise mild dish.
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 leeks (white and light green parts), thickly sliced

3 carrots, chopped

8 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into thirds

1/2 cup pearl barley

1 head escarole, trimmed and roughly chopped (about 6 cups)

3 large eggs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and carrots and cook until just beginning to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, chicken thighs and barley. Cover the pot, increase the heat to high and bring to a rapid simmer. Uncover, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 16 minutes.
  2. Remove the chicken to a bowl. Add the escarole to the pot. Shred the chicken with two forks and return to the pot. Simmer until the barley is tender, about 12 more minutes.
  3. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Whisk in the Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir the soup slowly in a clockwise direction and slowly drizzle in the egg mixture. Once you’ve added all the egg, remove the soup from the heat; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Heather

I can’t believe more people haven’t made this! This is my go-to comfort food soup. I have used all thighs and a combo of thighs and boneless breasts over the many times I have made this soup. I use 3 boxes of chicken stock and closer to 2 1/2 - 3 lbs of trimmed chicken. I have made this multiple times and I used escarole once. It was very thin and lacy as far as greens go. I prefer it with a few big handfuls of baby spinach. I have also used Lacinato kale which was great too. I did not love the instant barley in this when I had to restock and my store didn’t have the regular. I use a whole lemon at the end. I love the ease of cooking the chicken right in the same pot. Truly a one pot dish. I love this recipe and it’s very forgiving if you need to swap something out.

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