GREASY SAE’S CALL IT BEEF SOUP

SERVES 4

Greasy Sae told Katniss that once it was in the soup, she’d call it beef. We’ll start with beef and call it dog. After all, you’d like to eat the soup. If you want something a bit wilder, you can try one of the recipes in Chapter 7.

Greasy Sae had to work primarily with ingredients brought to her by traders. The ingredients in this soup include the greens and other wild things people like Katniss and Gale brought in.

1 TABLESPOON BUTTER

1 LARGE WHITE ONION, THINLY SLICED

½ CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

1 TABLESPOON SALT

1 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

2 POUNDS STEW BEEF, CUBED

2 CLOVES CRUSHED GARLIC

2 TABLESPOONS CANOLA OR OLIVE OIL

4 CUPS BEEF STOCK

2 CUPS WARM WATER

1 BAY LEAF

2 CUPS WASHED AND TORN DANDELION GREENS OR WATERCRESS

1 CUP QUICK-COOKING BARLEY

Heat a large, heavy pot on medium heat. Add butter and heat until completely melted and no longer frothy.

Add thinly sliced onions. Let onions brown and caramelize for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally while you prepare beef and other ingredients.

Put flour, salt and pepper in a plastic bag, shake well and add beef in batches, shaking to coat. Set coated beef aside.

Add garlic to onions, then remove onions to a plate and set aside.

Add oil to the same pot and brown beef until well seared on all sides.

Put onions, garlic and any residual butter back into the pot.

Add beef stock, warm water and bay leaf and bring just to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 1½ hours. Taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper as needed.

Add greens and barley and simmer covered for another 20–30 minutes, until barley and greens are just tender.

Serve with some crusty bread dipped in olive oil.