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Cozy Beef Barley Soup

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A hearty and comforting beef barley soup with tender beef, chewy barley, and fresh herbs, perfect for cozy nights and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (700 g) beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) pearl barley
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups (1.4 liters) beef broth, homemade or low-sodium
  • 1 can (14.5 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef chuck cubes dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. (Prep time: 5 minutes)
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef cubes in batches, about 5 minutes per batch, until a deep golden crust forms. Remove beef and set aside. (Cook time: 15 minutes)
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant, about 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another minute, avoiding burning the garlic. (Cook time: 8 minutes)
  4. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, and thyme. Cook for 2 minutes to develop flavors. Pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes. Add the browned beef back into the pot along with bay leaves. (Cook time: 5 minutes)
  5. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1.25 hours until beef is tender, stirring occasionally. (Cook time: 60-75 minutes)
  6. Stir in pearl barley and continue simmering uncovered for another 30-40 minutes until barley is tender but still chewy. Add water or broth if soup thickens too much. (Cook time: 30-40 minutes)
  7. Remove bay leaves and taste. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top before serving. (Cook time: 5 minutes)

Notes

For gluten-free, substitute pearl barley with quinoa or rice. For vegetarian, replace beef with mushrooms and beef broth with vegetable broth. Browning the beef properly adds essential flavor. Avoid burning garlic. Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent sticking. If soup thickens too much, add water or broth. For thicker soup, mash some barley grains against the pot side to release starch.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef barley soup, hearty soup, comfort food, slow simmer, easy soup recipe, family dinner, cozy soup

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/cozy-beef-barley-soup-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-hearty-comfort/