Comfort food. This hearthy soup is just perfect for winter season. This ancient soup comes from the Aosta Valley, a region in the North of Italy and as well as the smallest one.

Serves: 2 | Preparation: 20 mins | Cooking : 80 mins

  • Pearl Barley: 100 g
  • Vegetable broth: 1 l
  • Chestnut: 10
  • Potato: 1
  • Onion: 1
  • Bay leaf: 1
  • Peeled Garlic Clove: 1
  • Rosemary: 1 sprig
  • Butter, unsalted: 20 g
  • Nutmeg: ½ tsp
  • Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO): 1 tbsp
  • Salt and pepper: to taste

Method

Prepare the vegetable broth. Keep the broth warm in order to cook the barley.

Dice the potato.

Rinse the barley under running water, then dry it with a kitchen cloth.

Cut an X in the flat side of chestnuts and boil in water for about 30 minutes. Drain and peel when they’re cool enough to handle. Mince them and keep some whole to garnish the dish at the end.

Mince finely the onion, brown it in a frying-pan along with the butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil with garlic, rosemary and bay leaf. Add the barley and toast it a bit, then add a few ladles of warm broth. As soon as the barley absorbs the liquid, add more broth – just as to prepare a risotto. Season to taste and stir.

Add the dice potato and minced chestnuts to the barley, a pinch of nutmeg, stir, cover with a lid.

Tip: Add more hot broth if the soup is too thick.

Cook over a low heat for about 25-30 minutes, turn off the heat, remove rosemary, garlic and bay leaf.

Serve your soup warm, add a drizzle of olive oil and some whole chestnuts.

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