You need: 1.2 litres/2 pints vegetable stock (I use Osem Chicken Flavour powder dissolved in water - or you can use a cube), 25g/1oz barley (pre-treated to cook quickly), 2 leeks, washed and cut into rings, 2 medium size potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes, 100g/about 4oz cut up curly kale, washed.Salt and black pepper.
It's this easy: Put the barley in a pan, cover with half the stock and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the leeks and potatoes with a little salt and pepper (not too much as the stock can be salty) and top up with the rest of the stock. Cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the kale and cook for 5 more minutes. It's ready. Serve with some crusty brown bread.
(The recipe is adapted from Waitrose Everyday Meals).