Lunch: Mushroom Barley Soup with Mini Meatballs

Recipe by Grace Parisi Food and Wine's Grace Parisi has always been a fan of mushroom barley soup with beef that has been simmered until succulent. For a clever shortcut that still delivers deep flavor, she replaces the beef with meatballs made from a qu

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Barley

Health benefits of Mushroom Barley Soup with Mini Meatballs

Barley is about the best grain a woman with PCOS can eat. It is low in calories and has the lowest GI of all grains. Low-GI grains such as barley take much longer to digest and create a slow, steady rise in blood glucose and insulin levels. As mentioned before on Fertility Chef, low-GI foods reduce cravings. If possible, try and find hulled barley as it is the most nutrient dense of all types of barley.

Ingredients

4 c. beef stock or low-sodium broth
1 c. water
1/2 c. pearled barley
1 sprig thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. wild and cultivated mushrooms
1 large shallot
1/2 lb. ground sirloin
1 large egg
2 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tbsp. Chopped flat-leaf parsley
Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions

In a large saucepan, combine the stock, water, barley, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the barley is nearly tender, about 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the mushrooms and shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook over high heat until tender and browned, about 8 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the sirloin, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Knead the mixture until blended, then roll it into sixteen 1-inch balls.
Add the meatballs and mushrooms to the soup and simmer over moderate heat until the meatballs are cooked through and the barley is tender, about 8 minutes. Discard the thyme. Stir the parsley into the soup and serve in bowls with sour cream.
Wine pairing: A bright, berry-rich Pinot Noir like 2006 McManis.