There are few things more satisfying on a wet, bone-chilling evening than a hearty pot of soup. This lamb and barley stew is the kind of one-dish meal that is even better the next day as leftovers.; all it needs is a slice of rustic bread, a green salad, and a glass of burgundy to round out the meal. We’ve been eating this stew for so long that I don’t know where the original recipe came from. During our recent kitchen renovation, the only thing that went missing after everything was put back together was my drawerful of favorite family recipes. Happily, I know this one by heart.
Lamb and Barley Stew
Serves: 6
Prep time: 1 ½ hours
Ingredients
- 6 pieces lamb shank on the bone, or butterflied leg of lamb if lamb shank is not available, 3 pounds
- ¾ cup barley (rinsed)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 leek, thinly sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 6 cups water
- ½ cup dried split green peas (soaked in water for one hour)
- 2 medium carrots, cubed to ¼ inch size
- 2 medium red bliss potatoes, cubed to ¼ inch size
Directions
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, boil together lamb, barley, onions, garlic, leeks, bay leaf, salt, pepper and water.
- Let simmer for one hour.
- Remove shank bone.
- Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and discard bone.
- Put meat back into pot and add peas.
- Add carrots and potatoes.
- When peas are tender, allow to cook for 15 more minutes.
- Remove bay leaf before serving.
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