Beef and Barley Soup Recipe

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Delicious rich and hearty barley soup with chunks of beef and carrots.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 15

Servings people

Calories 486kcal

Add olive to a large heavy bottomed pot and heat until simmering.
Add the beef and brown over medium high heat. Once all sides are browned, remove the meat and set aside.
1½ - 2 pounds beef chuck roast, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
In the same pan, add another tablespoon of olive oil along with the onions, celery and carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes over medium heat until the onions begin to soften.
½ medium onion, 2 celery ribs, 4 carrots
Clear a spot in the center of the pot. Place tomato paste and garlic in the center. Cook for 30 seconds then stir into the veggies.
3 cloves garlic, 4 tablespoons tomato paste
Add red wine to deglaze the pan. Stir until the wine has reduced by half, scraping up all brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
¾ cup red wine
Stir in broth, Worcestershire sauce and herbs. Return beef to pot.
8 cups beef broth, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 bay leaf
Bring to a boil, then place lid on the pot leaving a slight gap to allow the steam to escape. Turn heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir a few times while cooking.
Stir in pearl barley. Replace lid leaving it slightly ajar. Cook for 25-35 minutes until the barley is cooked.
1 cup pearl barley
Add salt and pepper to taste. If the soup is too dry, add water or additional broth.
½ - 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Remove sprigs of herbs if using fresh.
Top with freshly chopped parsley for garnish. Serve hot.
2 teaspoons fresh parsley

Use whole carrots rather than packaged baby carrots. The baby carrots lose a lot of their flavor during processing.
Be certain to get a good sear with a good brown color on the beef. It adds a lot of flavor to the soup.
Simmer the soup to develop the flavors.
Add water or additional broth to thin the soup. I often add ½ - 1 cup of additional liquid.
The barley will continue to soften and absorb liquid the longer it sits.