Barley Bowl with Greens, Olive Oil, and Soft Egg

Chewy pearl barley tossed with wilted greens, golden onion and garlic, olive oil, and a soft egg brightened by fish sauce. It recalls Aedia’s ladle and the garum drop that flavored noon hunger beside Pompeii’s steaming street dolia.

Serves 2

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Ingredients

• 1 cup pearl barley
• 4 cups chopped kale or mixed greens
• 1 medium onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 4 cups water

Instructions

1. 1Bring water to a boil in a medium pot, add barley and simmer for 35 minutes until tender but chewy.
2. 2In a large skillet heat olive oil, cook sliced onion and minced garlic until golden.
3. 3Add chopped greens and fish sauce, stir until wilted then mix in the drained barley.
4. 4Drizzle remaining olive oil generously over the barley and greens mixture.
5. 5Poach or soft-boil eggs until whites are set but yolks remain runny, place one egg on each bowl of barley and serve immediately.