Description
Warm up with a comforting bowl of Beef Barley Soup, a hearty and satisfying dish perfect for chilly days. Tender beef, wholesome barley, and aromatic herbs simmered in a flavorful broth make this soup a wholesome meal on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Barley Soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound beef stew meat (cut into small cubes)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 cups beef broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup pearl barley (rinsed)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the Olive Oil and Brown the Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then add to the pot and brown on all sides, about 4–5 minutes. Remove beef and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Return the beef to the pot and add the beef broth, water, pearl barley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, and mushrooms if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 45–60 minutes, or until the beef is tender and barley is cooked.
- Adjust and Serve: Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, sear the beef in batches and deglaze the pot with a splash of broth before adding the rest.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
