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Cozy Beef Barley Soup

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A warm, hearty, and easy-to-make beef barley soup perfect for cozy nights. This comforting homemade meal combines tender beef, chewy pearl barley, and fresh vegetables simmered to perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces (preferably chuck)
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse 3/4 cup pearl barley under cold water and set aside. Chop 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, and 1 large onion into bite-sized pieces. Mince 3 garlic cloves.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat in batches to avoid overcrowding. Brown the pieces on all sides, about 5–7 minutes per batch. Remove browned beef and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, reduce heat to medium and add chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the can of diced tomatoes with juices and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom.
  5. Return the browned beef to the pot along with 6 cups beef broth, 2 bay leaves, and 2 teaspoons fresh thyme. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer.
  6. Add the rinsed pearl barley to the pot. Cover partially with a lid and let the soup simmer for 1 to 1.25 hours, stirring occasionally. Check the barley’s tenderness after an hour. The beef should be fork-tender, and the barley pleasantly chewy.
  7. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If the soup feels too thick, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
  8. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley for garnish.

Notes

Brown the beef thoroughly for deep flavor and avoid overcrowding the pan. Rinse barley to remove excess starch and prevent gumminess. Simmer gently to keep meat tender and barley chewy. Season near the end to avoid over-salting. If soup thickens upon cooling, stir in warm broth or water before reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef barley soup, hearty soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, homemade soup, winter soup, stew meat soup

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