Light Coconut Cream Broccoli and Barley Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup barley
• 3 cups water
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, cut into slivers and divided
• 2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 2 dashes ground nutmeg
• 7 cups chopped broccoli florets and stalks
• 3 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
• 1 (14 ounce) can reduced-fat coconut milk
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese (optional)
• 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, chopped (optional)