Serves: 6
Total Calories: 133

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ounces finely chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup (about 8 ounces) dried cannellini or Great northern beans, soaked and drained*
1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed and drained
salt and freshly ground black pepper

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1 Pour the oil into a large pot. Add the pancetta. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the pancetta is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are golden, about 10 minutes.

2 Add the beans and 8 cups water. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 11/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are very tender.

3 Mash some of the beans with the back of a large spoon. Add the barley, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook 30 minutes or until the barley is tender. Stir the soup frequently so that the barley does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Add water if the soup is too thick. Serve hot or warm.

From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 6
Total Calories: 133
Calories from Fat: 40

More Recipes from the Cook'n in Italy Cookbook:
* Soups
Antonietta’s Bean Soup
Bean and Mushroom Soup
Bread Noodles in Broth
Chicken Broth
Chickpea Soup from Puglia
Chickpea and Pasta Soup
Chunky Fish Soup
Cooked Water Soup
Creamy Bean Soup
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Creamy Fennel Soup
Creamy Mushroom Soup
Egg Crepes in Broth
Egg Soup from Pavia
Escarole and Little Meatballs Soup
Fontina, Bread, and Cabbage Soup
Friulian Barley and Bean Soup
Green Bean and Sausage Soup
Leek, Tomato, and Bread Soup
Lentil and Fennel Soup
Lentil and Greens Soup
Ligurian Chickpea and Porcini Soup
Married Soup
Meat Broth
Milan-Style Pasta and Beans
Mushroom and Potato Soup
Mussels and Clams in Tomato Broth
Pasta and Beans
Pureed Lentil Soup with Croutons
Red Pepper Soup
Roman Egg Drop Soup
Seafood, Pasta, and Bean Soup
Semolina Fritters in Broth
Sicilian Tomato Barley Soup
Spinach, Lentil, and Rice Soup
Tuscan Bread and Vegetable Soup
Tuscan Fish Soup
Tyrolean Bread Dumplings
Vegetable Soup with Pesto
Winter Squash Soup
Zucchini Pesto Soup
Zucchini and Potato Soup
Zucchini and Tomato Soup