Description
Hearty beef barley soup combines tender meat, pearl barley, and robust vegetables in a rich, comforting broth. Simmered slowly, this classic dish warms souls and satisfies hungry diners with its wholesome, nourishing ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb beef stew meat (cut into bite-sized cubes)
- 8 cups (1.9 L) low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup pearl barley (uncooked)
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh thyme)
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh oregano)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional garnish: Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a hefty pot over medium-high heat. Season beef cubes with salt and pepper, then sear until golden brown on all surfaces. Transfer meat to a separate plate.
- In the identical pot, sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce tomato paste and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing flavors to intensify and develop a deeper complexity.
- Return browned meat to the pot, combining with pearl barley, beef broth, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, and oregano. Thoroughly mix ingredients.
- Escalate heat to generate a robust boil, then immediately reduce temperature to low. Cover and allow soup to simmer gently for 60-70 minutes, ensuring beef becomes fork-tender and barley reaches optimal softness.
- After cooking, evaluate seasoning profile. Adjust salt and pepper according to personal preference.
- Extract bay leaves to prevent bitter undertones. Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for vibrant color and herbal notes.
- Serve steaming hot, allowing soup’s rich aromas to permeate the dining area.
Notes
- Choose chuck roast or stew meat for maximum tenderness and rich flavor during long cooking process.
- Allow extra time for barley to absorb liquid, which helps develop deeper taste profile and prevents soup from becoming too thick.
- Consider reducing sodium by using low-sodium beef broth and controlling salt amounts during seasoning stages.
- Customize recipe for gluten-sensitive diners by substituting pearl barley with quinoa or rice, maintaining similar hearty texture and nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 285 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg