Hearty Beef Barley Soup 🍲🥩

This comforting and wholesome Beef Barley Soup is packed with robust flavors and nutritious ingredients. It's perfect as a cozy dinner or to warm you up on a chilly day! The combination of tender beef, earthy barley, and a medley of vegetables creates a bowl of goodness that will make you feel right at home. Pair it with crusty bread for a complete meal! 🥖✨

Ingredients

For the soup base

• 1 lb (450 g) of beef stew meat, cubed
• 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 1 cup of mushrooms, sliced
• 6 cups of beef broth (or vegetable broth)
• 1 cup of pearl barley, rinsed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

For garnish

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Optional: A sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

• Brown the beef: In a large pot, toss the cubed beef with flour, salt, and pepper until coated. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the beef and set aside.

🔥 Browning the beef adds a rich flavor to the soup, so take your time with this step!

• Sauté the vegetables: In the same pot, add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until softened.

• Combine and simmer: Return the browned beef to the pot. Add the beef broth, rinsed pearl barley, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beef is tender and the barley is cooked.

⏳ If the soup is too thick, you can add more broth or water to reach your desired consistency. The flavors will deepen as it simmers!

• Season and serve: Once the soup is ready, taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Discard the bay leaves before serving.

🌱 A squeeze of lemon juice right before serving can add a nice brightness to the flavor!

Variations

• Low and Slow: For a slow cooker version, brown the beef and sauté the vegetables as directed, then transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

• Vegetarian: Replace beef with mushrooms or lentils and use vegetable broth. Increase the vegetables for a heartier dish.

• Wild Mushroom: Add a variety of mushrooms like shiitake or porcini for a more complex flavor.

• Herbed Twist: Stir in a handful of fresh spinach or kale for added nutrition right before serving.

• Quick Version: Use pre cooked or leftover beef and reduce the cooking time—just simmer until everything is heated through!

Enjoy this robust Beef Barley Soup that not only nourishes but also brings comfort with every spoonful! 🍽️❤️