Chicken Vegetable Barley Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken breasts
• 2 cups fresh green beans, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 heat olive oil over medium heat in large soup pot or dutch oven. cook onions, celery, carrots and garlic until soft, about 8 minutes. add thyme, salt and pepper, stir, and cook another minute to let vegetables absorb seasonings.
• 2 add water and chicken stock to pot and bring to a boil. add barley and reduce heat. cover and simmer for 45 minutes, or until barley is thoroughly cooked.
• 3 stir in diced chicken and fresh green beans. cover and simmer an additional 15 minutes.
• 4 immediately stir in parmesan cheese until dissolved. serve.