Description
Hearty beef barley soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending tender meat with earthy grains. Warm, rich flavors promise satisfaction when you ladle this classic soup into waiting bowls.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Grains and Other Ingredients:
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) beef broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Sear the beef chunks in a heated pot with olive oil, generously seasoning with salt and pepper until a rich golden-brown crust develops.
- Incorporate diced onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic, sautéing for approximately 5 minutes until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
- Introduce pearl barley, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, aromatic bay leaves, earthy thyme, and tangy Worcestershire sauce into the pot.
- Elevate the mixture to a robust boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covering the pot and allowing the ingredients to meld together for 60-90 minutes.
- Verify the tenderness of beef and barley, ensuring they have reached a soft, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Extract and discard bay leaves, then carefully season the soup with additional salt and pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- Choose tough, marbled beef cuts like chuck or round for deeper, richer flavor that becomes tender during slow cooking.
- Toast barley briefly before adding liquid to enhance its nutty taste and prevent mushy texture.
- Trim excess fat from beef to control soup’s greasiness while maintaining rich meaty profile.
- Consider using low-sodium broth to manage salt content and allow personal seasoning preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 258 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg