Description
Hearty beef barley soup brings comfort from first spoonful to last. Robust ingredients blend perfectly, creating a warming meal that satisfies deep hunger with traditional culinary wisdom.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup (15g) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Protein Preparation: Ignite olive oil in a substantial pot over medium-high heat. Expertly sear meat segments in batches, creating a caramelized golden crust. Relocate beautifully browned pieces to a temporary plate.
- Flavor Foundation: Within the identical cooking vessel, introduce aromatic vegetables. Saute onions, carrots, and celery until translucent and fragrant. Fold in garlic and tomato paste, allowing ingredients to develop deep, complex flavors.
- Liquid Landscape: Reunite seared meat with vegetable medley. Stream beef broth into the pot, incorporating pearl barley, herbs, diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Blend components thoroughly, creating a harmonious culinary composition.
- Slow Transformation: Propel mixture to a boiling state, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow ingredients to meld and tenderize for 75-90 minutes. During this period, meat will become fork-tender while barley absorbs surrounding essence.
- Culinary Finale: Remove bay leaves. Calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle into warm bowls, crown with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately while steaming.
Notes
- Manage Meat Searing: Brown meat in batches to prevent overcrowding, which steams instead of caramelizes. Ensure each piece has direct contact with hot pan for maximum flavor development.
- Control Barley Texture: Different barley types absorb liquid differently. Pearl barley cooks faster, while hulled barley requires longer simmering. Adjust liquid quantities accordingly to prevent mushy or undercooked grains.
- Enhance Soup Depth: Consider adding a splash of red wine during vegetable sautéing to introduce complex, rich undertones. Alternatively, incorporate a parmesan rind during simmering for deeper umami characteristics.
- Customize Dietary Needs: For gluten-free version, substitute barley with quinoa or rice. Vegetarian adaptation can replace beef with mushrooms or lentils, using vegetable broth to maintain robust flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg