Thursday, October 20, 2011

Soup's On ~ Hearty Beef Barley


Yesterday I showed you a few of my favorite soup tureens with a promise
that I would share my Beef and Barley soup recipe, so here it is.

Let's collect the ingredients:

1/2 to 3/4 lb lean beef stew meat
1 - 32 oz container beef stock or broth 
1/2 large onion, chopped 
1 to 3 cloves chopped garlic (we love lots)
3 to 4 peeled and chopped carrots
1 to 2 chopped celery ribs and don't forget the leaves
1/2 cup pearl barley
S & P to taste and 1 bay leaf
EVOO




In a 3 quart soup pot, add a thin film of extra virgin olive oil to just coat the
bottom of the soup pan. While you pat the beef chunks dry with paper towels, get
that oil screaming hot.  Now I don't salt my meat at this point because I want to
thoroughly brown my meat to give the stock a rich, deep flavor.



I only brown a few pieces at a time because I want the meat to brown and not stew.
Just pull out the brown chunks and add more until all are thoroughly browned.
When you have completed this step, you will have brown bits left in the pot.  This is
good!  Now add the chopped onion and celery.  This is when I add my Kosher salt and
pepper.  Saute until onions become translucent, then add garlic and continue to 
saute, followed by the carrots.  I just let the carrots soak up these flavors a bit and then
I add a splash of whatever red wine I have around to blend in all of the brown bits.
You can skip this step, but if you are worried about the alcohol, it all burns off in 
the cooking.  Add the reserved beef chunks, all of the stock and bay leaf.  Cover and simmer for 1/2 to 2 hours.  Add the barley and continue to cook another 30 to 45 minutes.




Salt and Pepper to taste if needed.  



You will have a hearty and healthy soup.  I like to serve this soup with assorted
greens and a simple vinaigrette.  A crusty baguette is yummy with this soup as well,
along with a glass of Pinot Noir or a Merlot.



This recipe will serve 2 - 4.  Bon Appetit!

I am linking to

and

Don't worry Bentley ~ I will save some beef and barley soup for you.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

10 comments:

  1. I simply love beef and barley stew, yours looks delicious !
    Thank you for sharing your recipe :)
    ~Jo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooo this looks sooo good! I wish you delivered! Julia Child cooked her beef the same way!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Our dinner is on the stove cooking right now and a pot of veg soup for tomorrow. I wish I had opened your post before cooking. Never mind Sunday I will certainly cook your recipe,I've taken the steak out of the freezer ready. Yum it looks so scrummy. My mouth is watering xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is just the right soup for today.
    We have had a hard night frost and although the sun is shining the temperature has still only reached minus 2 C. Your hearty soup looks wonderful and warming.

    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is on our list to make! thanks for sharing.
    Katie
    www.westiejulep.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds great Susan! My youngest loves beef barley soup, gotta make some soon:@)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I luv soups and this one looks and sounds like great comfort food! Thanks for the receipe!

    Thanks for sharing this post and linking to Potpourri Friday. You participation is appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi there, I haven't had beef and barley soup in years and I think now I shall have to make it after seeing your recipe. Thanks for sharing it. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris

    ReplyDelete

Oliver and I LOVE and read every comment.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...