Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound beef stew meat
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 ribs celery, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- ¾ cup pearl barley, rinsed
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes seasoned with salt and pepper; brown on all sides and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms until softened (5-6 minutes).
- Stir in garlic, thyme, and tomato paste; cook for another minute.
- Return the beef to the pot along with any juices. Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaves; stir well.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 45 minutes.
- Add rinsed pearl barley; cover again and simmer for an additional 45-60 minutes until both beef and barley are tender.
- Discard bay leaves before serving hot garnished with fresh parsley.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (250g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: For added depth of flavor, consider adding herbs like rosemary or oregano. You can customize the vegetables based on your preferences—peas or green beans work well too! This soup stores well in the fridge for up to four days or can be frozen for up to three months.
