Description
Hearty beef barley soup delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, packed with tender meat and robust vegetables. Warm, satisfying spoonful after spoonful will transport you to a rustic dining experience that nourishes both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (454 grams) beef stew meat, diced
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Grains and Liquids:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) barley
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear beef stew meat in a large pot over medium-high heat until deeply caramelized and golden brown, creating rich flavor foundation.
- Incorporate diced onions, sliced carrots, chopped celery, and minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Introduce pearl barley, robust beef broth, aromatic thyme, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper into the pot, stirring to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Elevate heat to generate vigorous boil, then immediately reduce temperature to low, covering pot and allowing soup to gently simmer for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Verify barley’s tenderness and meat’s succulent texture, adjusting seasoning if necessary with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle steaming soup into deep bowls, ensuring generous portions of meat and vegetables in each serving, and present immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose fatty cuts of beef like chuck or short ribs for richer, more robust flavor and tender meat that falls apart easily.
- Rinse barley thoroughly before adding to remove excess starch and prevent cloudiness in the soup.
- Enhance depth by deglazing the pot with a splash of red wine after browning the meat, scraping up delicious browned bits from the bottom.
- For a lighter version, substitute lean ground beef or turkey and use low-sodium broth to reduce calories and fat content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg