Bean & barley soup

Low-fat, vegetarian and super-healthy, this filling one-pot lunch or dinner is packed with chickpeas, butter beans and pearl barley.

Bean & barley soup

Low-fat, vegetarian and super-healthy, this filling one-pot lunch or dinner is packed with chickpeas, butter beans and pearl barley

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 1 fennel bulb quartered, cored and sliced
  • 5 garlic cloves crushed
  • 400 g can chickpea drained and rinsed
  • 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
  • 600 ml vegetable stock
  • 250 g pearl barley
  • 215 g can butter beans drained and rinsed
  • 100 g pack baby spinach leaves
  • grated parmesan to serve

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion, fennel and garlic, and cook until softened and just beginning to brown, about 10-12 mins.
  • Mash half the chickpeas and add to the pan with the tomatoes, stock and barley. Top up with a can of water and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 45 mins or until the barley is tender. Add another can of water if the liquid has significantly reduced.
  • Add the remaining chickpeas and the butter beans to the soup. After a few mins, stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 min. Season and serve scattered with Parmesan.