Basil Barley Provencal Recipes

PROVENCAL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot, add the onions, and saute over low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add the leeks, potatoes, carrots, salt, and pepper and saute over medium heat for another 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and saffron, bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, or until all the vegetables are tender. Add the haricots verts and spaghetti, bring to a simmer, and cook for 15 more minutes.
• To serve, whisk 1/4 cup of the pistou into the hot soup, then season to taste. Depending on the saltiness of your chicken stock, you may need to add up to another tablespoon of salt. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and more pistou.
• Pistou:
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 24 large basil leaves
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup good olive oil
• Place the garlic, tomato paste, basil, and Parmesan in the bowl of a food processor and puree. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil down the feed tube to make a paste. Pack into a container, pour a film of olive oil on top, and close the lid.
• Yield: 1 cup

BASIL BARLEY PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet, and add the onion, zucchini, and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the zucchini is just tender and the onions are wilted, 8 minutes.
• Add the broth and cook 2 minutes more. Next, add the tomatoes and salt and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Add the barley, pinenuts, basil, and parsley to the skillet. Stir well, and cook about 2 minutes, until just heated through. Adjust the seasonings if necessary, and serve immedieately. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• To toast the pine nuts, spread the nuts iin a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in a 350*F. oven until fragrant and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Shake the pan once or twice so thata they brown evenly. Check the nuts after 3 minutes. As soon as they begin to color they will toast very quickly. Be sure not to let them burn.

BARLEY RISOTTO WITH CORN AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring vegetable broth and the water just to a simmer; reduce heat to low, and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add barley; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Pour in wine; cook, stirring, until absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Ladle in 2 cups warm broth; cook, stirring frequently, until almost completely absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Continue to add broth 1 cup at a time, stirring frequently and allowing liquid to be almost absorbed before adding more, until barley is tender and mixture is creamy, 40 to 50 minutes (you may not need all the broth). Add corn; cook just to heat through, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir in basil and parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with more cheese.
• Vary the Flavor
• This recipe can be made with other vegetables, such as frozen peas, slivered oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, or chopped roasted bell peppers, in place of the corn. Or for a spring variation, prepare Asparagus with Lemon Butter (page 272), cut into small pieces, and add it at the end, just to combine and heat through.

PROVENCAL CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add chicken, skin side down. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook until golden, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to platter. Pour off all but 1 1/2 tablespoons drippings. Cool skillet 2 minutes; return to low heat. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes and wine. Increase heat to medium; bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cook until tomatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes.
• Return chicken, skin side up, to skillet. Bring mixture to boil. Cover; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to plate. Add last 4 ingredients to sauce in skillet. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer until sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Spoon sauce over chicken; serve.

PROVENçAL BEEF WITH ZINFANDEL

Steps:

• Cook bacon in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Place bacon in 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Discard all but 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet. Cook beef in drippings in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown. Stir onion into beef. Cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Spoon into cooker.
• Stir remaining ingredients except mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, noodles and parsley into mixture in cooker.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours or until beef is tender.
• Stir in mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Cover and cook on low heat setting 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Serve beef mixture over noodles; sprinkle with parsley.

BARLEY & BROCCOLI RISOTTO WITH LEMON & BASIL

Steps:

• Pour a litre of cold water over the barley, cover and leave to soak overnight.
• The next day, drain the barley, reserve the liquid and use it to make 500ml vegetable bouillon. Heat half the oil in a non-stick pan, add the leek and cook briefly to soften. Tip half into a bowl, then add the barley and bouillon to the pan, cover and simmer for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, add the garlic, basil, remaining oil, the lemon juice and 3 tbsp water to the leeks in the bowl, and blitz to a paste with a stick blender
• When the barley has cooked for 20 mins, add the broccoli to the pan and cook for 5-10 mins more until both are tender. Stir in the basil purée, heat very briefly (to retain the fragrance), then spoon into bowls to serve.

BARLEY RISOTTO WITH CORN AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring broth and 4 cups water just to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add barley; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Then add wine; cook, stirring, until evaporated, about 1 minute.
• Add 2 cups hot broth mixture; simmer, stirring occasionally, until almost absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Continue adding broth mixture in this manner until barley is tender and mixture is creamy, 40 to 50 minutes (you may not have to use all the broth). Add corn; cook just to heat through, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in basil and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, with extra cheese.