Chicken Barley Soup with Sweet Potato

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 Spanish onion, diced
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 quarts chicken stock
• 3 cups diced cooked chicken breast
• 3 cups sliced carrots
• 2 parsnips, diced (optional)
• 1 1/4 cups barley
• 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill (optional)
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large heavy stockpot over medium heat; cook and stir onion, celery, and garlic in hot oil until onion is slightly tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir chicken stock, chicken, carrots, parsnips, and barley into onion mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until barley is slightly tender, about 30 minutes.

Stir sweet potatoes into soup and simmer until sweet potatoes and barley are tender, about 30 minutes; season with dill, salt, and pepper.