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Hearty Beef Barley Soup

A bowl of hearty beef barley soup with tender beef chunks, pearl barley, and vegetables in a rich brown broth, garnished with fresh parsley
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A classic and comforting one-pot beef barley soup with tender stew beef, chewy pearl barley, and hearty vegetables simmered in a rich, savory broth. Perfect for chilly days and easy meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 cups beef broth, low-sodium preferred
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown in batches, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch, until deep golden on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Return beef to the pot. Add beef broth, diced tomatoes with juices, bay leaf, and thyme. Stir to combine.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until beef is starting to become tender.
  5. Stir in rinsed pearl barley. Cover and simmer for 30 to 40 more minutes until barley is cooked through and beef pulls apart easily.
  6. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Pearl barley is used here for faster cooking. Hulled barley can be substituted but requires up to 90 minutes of cooking time. Add it much earlier in the process.
  • Always rinse the barley before adding it to the pot to prevent a gummy texture in the finished soup.
  • The soup will thicken as it sits because the barley absorbs liquid. Stir in extra broth or water when reheating to restore consistency.
  • This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop and deepen.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.benefitiany.com/beef-barley-soup/