One of my all time favorite foods, whether its cold outside and you want some cold weather food, or some comfort food is Beef and Barley Soup. I love this soup and it’s really simple to make.
Ingredients:
2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into one inch cubes
1 tsp salt, divided
1 1/2 tsp pepper, divided
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp tomato paste
8 cups chicken broth or stock, divided
1 small bunch thyme
2 bay leaves
6 peppercorns
3/4 cup pearled barley
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
(optional – fresh parsley for garnishing)
directions:
- Add the vegetable oil to a Dutch oven and warm up over medium high heat.
- Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper and season the steak.
- Cook the steak in small batches, and brown the steak on all sides (1-2 minutes).
- While the steak is cooking cut up your vegetables (onion, celery and carrots) and set aside.
- After each batch of steak is cooked remove and set aside.
- Add your cut up vegetables to the Dutch oven and sprinkle the remaining salt and pepper (1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp pepper) and cook for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables brown.
- After 4-5 minutes add your chopped garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, then remove all vegetables and set aside.
- Add 2 Tbsp tomato paste to the Dutch oven and brown for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the Dutch oven and stir to deglaze the Dutch oven, then add 2 more cups of chicken broth and the beef.
- Take a small piece of cheesecloth and add in your thyme, 2 bay leaves, and 6 peppercorns. Tie up the cheesecloth into a small cachet and add to the soup, and simmer with a lid on it for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- After 1 hour 15 minutes remove the lid and add 2 more cups of broth and vegetables, and the barley. Cook for 30-40 minutes. Add the remaining broth or water as needed.
- After 30-40 minutes your soup is ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
The Best Homemade Beef and Barley Soup
You can purchase a Dutch oven to make your own Beef and Barley soup at Amazon.
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, White
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