Description
Hearty beef barley soup combines rustic ingredients for a comforting winter meal. Robust flavors meld together, offering warmth and satisfaction for hungry diners seeking classic culinary comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef stew meat, cut into small cubes
Grains and Vegetables:
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) beef broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Sear beef cubes in hot olive oil over medium heat until golden brown on all surfaces, creating a rich caramelized exterior.
- Incorporate chopped onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic into the pot, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour beef broth and diced tomatoes into the pot, then introduce barley, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper, stirring to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Elevate heat to generate a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing flavors to meld and develop.
- Cover the pot and let the soup simmer for approximately 50-55 minutes, ensuring barley reaches a tender consistency and beef becomes fork-soft.
- Carefully extract the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones, then taste and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
- Ladle the hearty soup into warm bowls, serving immediately to capture the peak of its robust, comforting essence.
Notes
- Trim excess fat from beef cubes for a leaner soup, preventing greasy texture and reducing overall calories.
- Toast barley briefly in the pot before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and improve soup’s depth.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to control salt levels, allowing more precise seasoning during cooking.
- Consider adding root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for extra complexity and nutritional variety.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg