Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup)
A hearty Italian soup combining tender pearl barley and creamy cannellini beans with onion, carrot, celery, and pancetta. Olive oil, rosemary, salt, and black pepper lend a fragrant, peppery finish, making it a filling choice for a cozy lunch or warming family dinner.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook50 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 67 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 21 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 46
- Heart Health
- 92
- Metabolic
- 55
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 54
- General Wellness
- 1
Place barley into a bowl and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand for 1 hour. Drain.
- 2
Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook until slightly crisp, about 3 or 4 minutes. Stir the onion, carrot, and celery into the pancetta and cook until the vegetables are slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- 3
Mix half of the beans into the vegetable-pancetta mixture and pour in enough water to cover; stir in the barley and remaining beans. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring regularly and adding more water if the soup gets too thick.
- 4
Remove saucepan from heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Serve soup with rosemary leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Calories 490.45 kcal High 25%
- Protein 23.8 g Good Source 48%
- Carbohydrate 80.92 g 29%
- Total Fat 9.66 g Moderate 12%
- Saturated Fat 1.91 g Moderate 10%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 6.65 mg Low Source 2%
- Sodium 624.54 mg High 27%
- Dietary Fiber 23.49 g Good Source 84%
- Total Sugars 2.84 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 185.23 mg Moderate 14%
- Iron 6.27 mg Good Source 35%
- Potassium 1064.03 mg Good Source 23%
- Vitamin A 5.75 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.42 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup) is an Italian soup recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bacon, Barley, Black Pepper, and Cannellini Beans. Each serving provides about 490.45 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup)?
- It is an Italian soup recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for soup.
- What is Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup) made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon, Barley, Black Pepper, Cannellini Beans, Carrot. The full list of 12 is above.
- What goes well with Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup)?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup)?
- About 1 hr in total: 10 mins to prepare and 50 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 490.45 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup) healthy?
- Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli (Bean and Barley Soup) has an easyChef Pro health score of 60/100. Per serving, it provides 490.45 calories and 23.8 g of protein, or 48% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron and potassium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 624.54 mg (27% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.91 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Celery and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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