Barley Stew with Walnut Gremolata

We have the third storm weekend in a row. It is raining a lot and the weather is ugly. Now is the best time to cook stew. It warms the belly and the heart.

I love barley in a soup. Many people think that it is soo slimy.

recipe for 4:
180 g onions
2 cloves of garlic
150 g leek
1 carrot
100 g pearl barley
200 g tomatoes
125 g bacon
2 tbsp sunflower oil
3 bay leaves
150 g tomato passata
1 l veg stock
400 smoked sausages
8 stalks of parsley
50 g walnuts
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tbsp walnut oil
6 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Chop the onions and carrot in 1 cm cubes, half the leek and cut it in fine rings. Cube the bacon and the tomatoes. Chop the stalks from the parsley very fine. Save the leaves for later.
In some olive oil start bacon, onions, garlic, leek for 5 min. Add the washed barley and the bay leaves and parsley stalks. Cook that 3 more min. Season.
Now in with the tomatoes and passata and the veg stock. Bring it to a boil and add the sausages.
Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 40 min.

Leaves of the parsley get mixed with the walnuts in some walnut oil. Season with salt and pepper and add some olive oil. Serve on top of the stew on each plate.