Day 351: bowls of hug-giving goodness

I love recipes that have made their way through the generations, passed from person to person, kitchen to kitchen, table to table. They’re a gift from the heart. They provide the highest levels of comfort and reassurance, are a joy to cook, are always delicious and have unrivalled hug-giving qualities. This bowl of love is all of that. Day 351 is Grandma’s (Carrie Diamond’s) Bean and Barley Soup.

Grandma’s (Nigella’s Mother-in-Law, Carrie Diamond’s) Bean and Barley Soup

Dried butter beans have proved to be somewhat elusive in my usual retail haunts (both physical and digital), so I went for tinned here - cooking only for about an hour until the soup was thick, the barley tender and the veg soothingly soft. In place of the chicken stock, I decided to use the vat of ham stock I’ve had sitting in the freezer since Christmas.

I might be persecuted for suggesting such a thing, but: a light, green trickle of extra virgin olive oil poured over a bowl of reheated leftovers is also very delicious.

Recipe can be found in Feast.