Description
Hearty Beef Barley Soup delivers comforting warmth with tender beef and wholesome barley in a rich, savory broth. Rustic flavors blend seamlessly, promising satisfaction for hungry souls seeking classic home-style nourishment.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs beef stew meat (chuck beef or marbled cuts)
- ⅔ cup dry pearled barley
Vegetables:
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 0.5 cup chopped celery
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 6 cups water
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt (or more to taste)
- 2 dry bay leaves
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sear beef chunks in a hot skillet until golden brown and caramelized, developing deep flavor profiles.
- Transfer seared meat to a large cooking vessel, preserving the rich drippings for enhanced taste.
- Sauté chopped onions, carrots, and celery in the same skillet, capturing residual meat essence and creating a flavor foundation.
- Incorporate minced garlic and herbs, stirring rapidly to prevent burning and release aromatic compounds.
- Pour beef broth and water into the cooking vessel, blending all previously prepared ingredients together.
- Seal the pressure cooker lid securely, ensuring proper pressure valve positioning.
- Activate high-pressure cooking mode for approximately 40-45 minutes, allowing meat to tenderize completely.
- Execute a natural pressure release method, permitting residual heat to continue softening protein fibers.
- Carefully open the lid, revealing tender meat pieces and fragrant liquid base.
- Introduce pearl barley directly into the soup, activating the simmering function to integrate grain and enhance overall texture.
- Simmer uncovered for an additional 25-30 minutes, allowing barley to absorb liquid and expand.
- Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs, tasting and refining flavor profile.
- Let soup rest momentarily before serving to allow complete flavor melding and slight temperature reduction.
Notes
- Swap tough cuts of beef like chuck or round for more tender options such as sirloin to reduce cooking time and improve meat texture.
- Toast barley in a dry skillet before adding to the soup for a deeper, nuttier flavor that enhances the overall taste profile.
- Customize the soup by adding root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for extra nutrition and a subtle sweetness that complements the hearty beef.
- Store leftovers in
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg