Description
Hearty beef barley soup brings comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen in rural Poland. Robust beef, pearl barley, and tender vegetables combine in a rich broth that warms souls and satisfies hunger with each delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Hearty Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef stew meat
- 4 cups beef broth
Vegetables and Grains:
- 1 cup barley
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes
Seasonings and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium temperature, drizzle olive oil, and sear beef chunks until golden brown on all surfaces, creating a rich caramelized exterior.
- Incorporate diced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped celery into the pot, allowing vegetables to soften and release their aromatic flavors for approximately 5 minutes.
- Pour beef broth into the pot, introducing pearl barley, diced tomatoes, and frozen corn kernels. Sprinkle thyme, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to enhance the soup’s depth.
- Elevate heat to generate a robust boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow the mixture to slowly develop flavors for 45-60 minutes, ensuring beef becomes tender and barley transforms into a delectable, soft texture.
- After cooking, perform a final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the hearty soup into warm bowls, presenting a comforting meal that promises warmth and satisfaction.
Notes
- Choose lean beef cuts like sirloin or round for a healthier protein option that reduces overall fat content.
- Swap beef with plant-based alternatives like mushrooms or lentils to create a vegetarian version of this hearty soup.
- Toast barley in the pot before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and create deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Customize soup thickness by adjusting broth quantity – add more for a lighter consistency or reduce for a thicker, stew-like texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 305 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg