Description
Hearty Beef and Barley Soup is a comforting and nutritious dish featuring tender beef stew meat, pearl barley, and a medley of vegetables simmered together in a flavorful beef broth with herbs. Perfect for a warming meal, this soup combines the richness of beef with wholesome barley and aromatic seasonings to create a satisfying bowl that’s great for any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches, cooking until browned on all sides, about 5–7 minutes total. Remove the browned beef and set it aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In the same pot, add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften. Then add the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for an additional minute while stirring constantly to bloom the flavors.
- Combine and simmer: Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in the beef broth, add the rinsed pearl barley, dried thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook the soup: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer gently for 50–60 minutes or until the beef is tender and the barley is fully cooked.
- Finish and serve: Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in fresh chopped parsley if using, and taste the soup to adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the soup hot, ideally with fresh bread or your favorite side.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, try using a combination of beef broth and mushroom broth.
- This soup tastes even better the next day, making it great for leftovers.
- Add a splash of lemon juice or vinegar just before serving to brighten the flavors.
