Description
Hearty beef barley soup delivers comforting warmth with tender meat and rich broth, packed with wholesome vegetables and pearl barley. Rustic flavors blend seamlessly, promising a nourishing meal you will savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs (680g) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup (200g) pearl barley
- 8 cups (1.9L) beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bay leaves
Seasonings and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup (15g) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Protein: Heat olive oil in a robust pot over medium-high temperature. Season meat with salt and pepper, then methodically sear meat pieces in batches until golden brown, ensuring each chunk develops a rich caramelized exterior. Transfer browned meat to a temporary holding plate.
- Develop Aromatic Base: Within the same cooking vessel, introduce diced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped celery. Gently saute vegetables until they soften and release their natural fragrances. Incorporate minced garlic and tomato paste, allowing these ingredients to meld and intensify their flavors.
- Construct Soup Foundation: Reintroduce seared meat to the vegetable mixture. Pour in beef broth, then integrate pearl barley, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious liquid landscape.
- Slow Transformation: Elevate mixture to a boiling point, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow ingredients to slowly converge and tenderize, approximately 75-90 minutes. During this period, meat will become remarkably tender while barley absorbs surrounding flavors.
- Finalize and Present: Extract bay leaves from the soup. Taste and refine seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the robust soup into serving bowls, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and deliver immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Tenderize tough cuts of beef by browning thoroughly, creating a rich caramelized exterior that locks in deep flavor and ensures meat remains juicy during long cooking.
- Select pearl barley for quicker cooking time and softer texture compared to hulled barley, which requires longer simmering and maintains a chewier consistency.
- Customize soup’s thickness by adding extra broth if too dense or simmering uncovered to reduce liquid and concentrate flavors, adapting to personal preference.
- Make this soup diet-friendly by substituting beef with lean ground turkey or plant-based protein alternatives, maintaining the hearty vegetable and barley base for a nutritious meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg