• 20 ml olive or canola oil
• 3 chicken breasts on the bone, skin and fat removed
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 celery stalks with leaves, chopped
• 4 baby marrows, chopped
• 2 ℓ strong Rooibos tea
• 250 ml water
• 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 250 ml uncooked barley
• ¼ tsp salt
• lemon juice and black pepper to taste
• 45 ml chopped parsley

Serving size:  4
Preparation Time: 1 hour 45 mins

Heat the oil in a large pot and fry chicken until brown. Spoon out.

2. In the same pot, fry onions, carrots, celery and baby marrows until brown.
3. Add chicken, tea, water, rosemary, bay leaves, barley and salt. Reduce heat. Simmer with a lid for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
4. Spoon out the chicken. Cook the soup for 40-45 minutes or until the barley is soft.
5. Meanwhile, debone the chicken and shred the meat. Add back to the soup once the barley is cooked. Season well with lemon juice and pepper.
6. Stir in the parsley and serve hot. Serve this soup on its own and don’t be tempted to make bread part of this meal. The barley has enough carbs to make it filling. Rather bulk up by adding more green veggies to the soup if preferred – broccoli or spinach will be delicious.

Tips

1. Avocado is also delicious served with this soup.

Recipe by Pharma Dynamics
Cooking from the heart