Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Tuscan Barley Soup

Name: Tuscan Barley Soup
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H55M0.000S
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 sweet or spicy turkey sausage links, casings removed; 1 cup pearled barley; 8 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth; 2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds; 2 medium parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds; 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into1/2-inch slices; 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced; 1 medium leek, thinly sliced; One 12-ounce bunch Swiss or Rainbow chard, center stem removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces; One 12-ounce bunch Swiss or Rainbow chard, center stem removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces; 1 Parmesan cheese rind, optional; 1 dried bay leaf; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 cup chopped chives

Getting reviews...

Level: Easy

Total: 55 min
Active: 20 min

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Save Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 sweet or spicy turkey sausage links, casings removed

1 cup pearled barley

8 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

2 medium parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into1/2-inch slices

1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced

1 medium leek, thinly sliced

One 12-ounce bunch Swiss or Rainbow chard, center stem removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces

1 Parmesan cheese rind, optional

1 dried bay leaf

2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped chives

Directions

WATCH

Watch how to make this recipe.

In a 5-quart saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon into small pieces, until brown, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked sausage and reserve.

Add the barley and cook stirring constantly until lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Add the broth, carrots, parsnips, zucchini, fennel, leeks, chard, cheese rind if using, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the barley is tender, about 35 minutes.

Remove the Parmesan rind and bay leaf, and discard. Season the soup with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the cooked sausage and chopped chives.