Nordic Winter Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 leeks, white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup pearled barley
• 8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 4 cups water
• 10 thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 pounds celery root, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound baby spinach
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 

Instructions

Step 1

In a massive pot, heat the oil. Add the onion, leeks and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring often, till tender, concerning five minutes. Stir within the barley. Add the vegetable broth, water, thyme and bay leaves and produce to a boil. Add the celery root and parsnips and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over moderately low heat till the barley and root vegetables square measure tender, concerning forty minutes.

Step 2

Stir within the spinach and nutmeg and simmer for five minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper and serve in deep bowls.