Vegetable Irish Stew with Barley

Ingredients

• 1 cup barley
• 2 medium potatoes
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 large onions
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 pieces bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup peas
• 1 tablespoon parsley

Instructions

1. 1

   Rinse the barley under cold water in a fine mesh strainer and set aside.

2. 2

   Peel and dice the potatoes into 1-inch cubes, chop the carrots and celery into small pieces, and dice the onion.

3. 3

   In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent.

4. 4

   Add minced garlic (3 cloves), diced carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. 5

   Stir in the diced potatoes, rinsed barley, vegetable stock (4 cups), bay leaves (2), thyme (1 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon), and black pepper (1 teaspoon).

6. 6

   Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until the barley and vegetables are tender.

7. 7

   Add the peas (1 cup) to the stew during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

8. 8

   Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with chopped parsley (1 tablespoon) before serving.

9. 9

   Serve hot and enjoy your hearty Vegetable Irish Stew with Barley!