𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑦, 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐵𝑒𝑒𝑓 𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑝

𝐵𝑒𝑒𝑓 𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑝

𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:

1 lb beef stew meat, cubed 🥩
1 cup pearl barley 🌾
2 carrots, chopped 🥕
2 celery stalks, chopped 🥬
1 onion, chopped 🧅
4 cups beef broth 🍲
2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 bay leaf 🍃
1 tsp dried thyme 🌿
Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
2 tbsp olive oil 🫒

𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

1. Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the cubed beef stew meat, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Sear the meat on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, until browned. This step locks in flavor, so don’t rush it. Once browned, remove the beef and set aside. 🥩🫒

2. Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, being careful not to burn the garlic. 🧅🥕🧄

3. Add the Broth and Herbs: Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot (this adds flavor!). Return the browned beef to the pot, then add the bay leaf and dried thyme. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 1 hour or until the beef is tender. 🍲🌿

4. Add Barley: After the soup has simmered for an hour, stir in the pearl barley. Allow the soup to continue simmering for another 30-40 minutes, or until the barley is tender and the flavors have melded together. Stir occasionally to prevent the barley from sticking to the bottom of the pot. 🌾🍲

5. Season and Serve: Once the barley is cooked, taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy with crusty bread for a complete meal. The beef will be tender, the barley chewy, and the broth rich and flavorful. 🥣🍽️

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 | 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟭 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟯𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 | 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟭 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟰𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀

𝗞𝗰𝗮𝗹: 𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝗸𝗰𝗮𝗹 | 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝟲 𝗯𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘀

~ 𝑫𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒔