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A bowl of beef barley soup on a napkin with a spoon next to it.

Easy Beef Barley Soup

Hearty beef barley soup, a savory classic, combines tender beef, barley, and vegetables in a rich broth for a comforting and nutritious bowl.
www.comfortandpeasant.com
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 1 large soup or stock pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 3 large carrots (diced)
  • 3 celery stalks (diced)
  • 2 medium-sized garlic cloves (finely chopped)
  • 3 prime rib or beef bones
  • 450g (2 cups) beef (chopped into small pieces)
  • 473ml (2 cups) beef stock
  • 946ml (4 cups) water
  • 135g (2/3 cup) barley (soaked & drained)
  • 1 large bay leaf
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) Worscteshire sauce
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Soak barley in room temperature water for an hour and drain well. (If using pearl barley, omit this step).
  • Heat a large soup pot over medium heat.
  • Dice onion, carrots, celery and garlic.
    Someone dicing celery on a cutting board.
  • Add 28ml (2 tbsp) olive oil to the heated soup pot and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat stirring occasionally until the vegetables have softened slightly but not browned. If the vegetables are starting to brown, lower the heat.
    Someone adding chopped celery to a pot of onions & carrots cooking on stove.
  • Add the garlic to the pot, stir, and cook for another 2 minutes.
    Someone adding chopped garlic to a pot of onions, celery & carrots cooking on a stove.
  • Add the beef bones and meat to the pot and stir. Add the beef broth and water and bring the pot back to a simmer.
    Someone adding water to a soup pot on the stove.
  • When the soup has come to a simmer, add the drained barley to the pot and stir well.
    Someone adding barley to a pot of soup cooking on the stove.
  • Add the bay leaf and the Worcestershire sauce. Stir until combined. Cover the pot and bring it back to a simmer. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for another 35-40 minutes or until the barley has softened.
    Someone adding worcestershire sauce to a pot of soup cooking on a stove.

Notes

See the "How To Make This" & "Tips For Success" sections above the recipe for more detailed information on the process. 
Keyword barley, Beef, broth, carrots, celery, Easy, onion, stock, winter