You can use pearl or pot barley in this stew. If you use pot barley, you will need to cook it for a slightly longer time, and may need to add more than the 1 cup / 250 ml of water specified in the recipe.
Servings: 8servings
Author: Mary Gillespie
Ingredients
2tablespoons/ 30 ml oil
2onionschopped (about 2 cups / 500 ml)
4clovesgarlicminced
1/2teaspoon/ 2.5 ml salt
1tablespoon/ 15 ml molasses
2large carrotsdiced (about 2 cups / 500 ml)
4stalks celerychopped (about 1-1/2 cups / 375 ml)
1cup/ 500 ml yellow split peas
1/2cup/ 125 ml barley
8cups/ 2 liters vegetable stock
2tablespoons/ 30 ml parsley
1teaspoon/ 5 ml thyme
1/2teaspoon/ 2.5 ml sage
1/2teaspoon/ 2.5 ml ground pepper
1cup/ 250 ml water
1/2teaspoon/ 2.5 ml salt
1tablespoon/ 15 ml lemon juice
Instructions
Heat a large saucepan or pot over medium heat. When the pot has heated, add the oil and swirl to coat pan. Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes longer. Do not let the onions or the garlic start to brown. If they start to brown, turn down the heat.
Add salt and molasses and stir to coat onions. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Add carrots, celery, split peas, and barley. Stir to coat and let cook for one more minute.
Add vegetable stock, parsley, thyme, sage and ground pepper.
Bring mixture to a boil, uncovered, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
Let the stew simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add water, and cook, covered, for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep stew from sticking to bottom of pan. When split peas are tender, add remaining salt and lemon juice.
Let stew cool for 10 minutes, then serve. It will thicken as it cools.
If you are preparing the stew in advance, you can thin it with stock or water if you prefer it to be less thick.