Chunky beef-barley soup, hearty, healthy and delicious. Large chunks of beef and vegetables, and thickened up with pearl barley. This is a one-pot meal, serve with crusty mulit-grain bread.
2 to 3tablespoonsolive oilor coconut oil, for browning the beef
2 to 3poundsboneless chuck roasttrimmed and cut into ½ inch cubes (see notes)
1onionchopped
4 to 6clovesgarlicminced
1cupcelerycut into 1/2-inch pieces
2cupscarrotscut into large 1/2-inch pieces
8ouncesbutton mushroomscut in half
4(14 ounce) canbeef broth7 cups total
2cupsred wine
2(14 ounce) cancanned diced tomatoes
1(6 ounce) cantomato paste
½cupuncooked pearl barley
1tablespoonfresh chopped parsley
1tablespoonfresh chopped thyme
1tablespoonfresh chopped rosemary
1 tablespoonfresh chopped sage
3bay leaves
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonground black pepper
Instructions
In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the beef chunks, working in batches. Remove each batch as it browns and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any oil.
Add the onions, garlic, celery, carrots and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the browned beef back to the pot and add the beef broth, wine and tomatoes.
In a small dish, mix the tomato paste with 1 cup of water, stir to combine it well and add it to the soup pot. Add the pearl barley, chopped herbs, bay leaves, salt and pepper and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 2 hours.
When ready to serve, remove and discard the bay leaves and ladle the soup into serving bowls.