Winter Minestrone with Barley and Sage, an Italian recipe from the Worldwide Gourmet

Ingredients

• - 90 ml (6 tbsp.) olive oil
• - 90 g (3 oz.) smoked bacon, in small pieces
• - 1 large onion, diced
• - 2 carrots, diced
• - 3 green onions, white parts only, chopped
• - 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• - 8 basil leaves, torn up
• - 1 1/2 tbsp. chopped Italian parsley
• - 8 sage leaves
• - 3 sprigs of thyme
• - 3 Savoy cabbage leaves, chopped
• - Salt and freshly ground pepper
• - 2.25 liters (9 cups) chicken stock
• - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• - 180 ml (3/4 cup) pearl barley
• - 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) green or yellow beans, tipped and chopped