TOMATO SOUP WITH BARLEY AND PASTA

TOMATO SOUP WITH BARLEY AND PASTA
I made this soup for lunch for myself as my husband was away on a business trip. I wanted something spicy and filling in one pot. The time taken to make this soup was less than 15 minutes. I just sautéed the veggies and added the barley and whole wheat pasta in the end. It turned out pretty good. I did save some of this soup my husband and he too loved this soup.

INGREDIENTS:
1. Canned tomatoes, 1 medium-sized can.
2. Red onion, medium-size, 1.
3. Baby spinach leaves, 1 cup.
4. Fresh basil, a handful
5. Dried oregano, 1 teaspoon.
6. Chili powder, ½ teaspoon.
7. Garlic, 3 cloves.
8. Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon.
9. Barley, ¼ cup.
10. Any whole-grain pasta, ½ cup.
11. Water or broth, 4 cups.
12. Salt and pepper as per taste.

PREPARATION:
Dice the onion finely and crush the garlic cloves coarsely. Heat some oil in a pot. When the oil is hot enough, put the onions and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Then add the tomatoes and let everything cook for 2-3 minutes until everything is blended. Add 4 cups of water along with the chili powder, seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, and barley and let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Once the barley is cooked, add the pasta to the soup and mix well. Let it cook for a few more minutes until the pasta is al-dente. Add the baby spinach leaves and mix everything well and switch off the stove. The heat from the soup will start wilting the spinach. Stir in some torn basil leaves and ladle the soups into serving bowls and serve hot with any crusty bread.