It's summer and I have a stinking rotten cold. When I'm poorly I like my chicken and rice soup. But I didn't have any rice or leeks today so improvised a chicken broth with what I had available. I had pearl barley in the store cupboard, carrots in the fridge, chicken in the freezer and kale growing in the garden. This can also be a veggie soup, just add beans of some sort instead of chicken.
Chicken and kale broth
50g pearl barley
2 carrots, grated
colander full of kale leaves, shredded
1 litre veg stock (or chicken stock if you have it)
100g cooked chicken
Put barley in a large pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil then drain and rinse.
Put back in pan with veg stock and bring to the boil.
Simmer for about 20 mins
Add grated carrot and shredded kale to the pan and continue to simmer for 10 mins
Add chicken (or beans) to warm through.
Serve with crusty bread
