Carinthian-Style Stew with Pearl Barley, Beans and Smoked Pork

Ingredients

• 200 g pearl barley
• 200 g dried white beans
• 400 g smoked pork belly
• 2 Bay leaves
• 6 crushed allspice berries
• 1 stalk leeks
• 2 carrots
• 1 parsley root
• 1 stalk Celery
• Salt
• Pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped lovage
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley

Instructions

1. 1.

   Soak the barley and beans separately in water overnight.

2. 2.

   Wash, dry, and pat the pork belly; add it with the spices to a pot, pour in 1.5 l water, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour.

3. 3.

   Meanwhile wash, clean or peel the vegetables and cut them into small cubes.

4. 4.

   Drain the beans and barley and add them to the meat; let stew gently for about 45 minutes on medium heat. After half the cooking time, add the vegetables. Remove the pork belly and spices from the soup, dice the pork into small cubes, return it to the pot, season with salt and pepper, stir in lovage and parsley, taste, and serve.