Spring Chicken & Barley Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 large chicken breast, skin removed, trimmed (8-10 ounces)
• 1/3 cup pearl barley
• 1/3 cup shredded fresh spinach
• 1/3 cup sliced mushrooms

• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup trimmed and diagonally sliced asparagus (1/4 inch thick)
• 1/2 cup thawed frozen peas
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup lightly packed torn fresh basil leaf
• 1 strip orange zest (1/2 by 2 inches)

Directions

1. 1

   Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, 2 to 4 minutes.

2. 2

   Add garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

3. 3

   Add broth, chicken and barley. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook over low heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate with a slotted spoon.

4. 4

   Return the broth to a simmer and cook until the barley is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, shred the chicken or cut into bite-size pieces; discard the bone.

6. 6

   When the barley is done, add the chicken, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes with juice, asparagus, peas, salt and a grinding of pepper; return to a simmer.

7. 7

   Cover and cook over low heat until the asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes more.

8. 8

   Gather basil and orange zest and finely chop together.

9. 9

   Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle each serving with a generous pinch of the basil mixture.