Beef and Barley with Mushrooms (Printable)

Hearty soup with tender beef, mushrooms, and barley simmered in aromatic broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
02 - 4 oz pancetta, diced

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 lb baby bella mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 medium carrots, diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Grains

08 - 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 8 cups low-sodium beef broth
10 - 1 cup water

→ Aromatics & Seasonings

11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 2 bay leaves
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
15 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook until browned and crispy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
02 - Season beef chuck cubes with salt and pepper. Add to the pot in batches, searing until browned on all sides, about 5-6 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside.
03 - Add remaining olive oil to the pot. Sauté onion, carrots, and celery until softened, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add sliced mushrooms to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release their juices and begin to brown, about 6-8 minutes.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Return reserved beef and pancetta to the pot. Add barley, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, beef broth, and water. Bring to a boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender and barley is fully cooked.
07 - Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The barley absorbs the savory broth and turns into these little nutty gems that are so much better than pasta.
  • Pancetta adds a hidden layer of smokiness that makes everyone ask what the secret ingredient is.
02 -
  • Barley continues to soak up liquid even after you turn off the heat so you might need extra broth for leftovers.
  • If the beef feels tough after an hour it just needs more time because the connective tissue has not fully broken down yet.
03 -
  • Sear the beef in small batches because crowding the pan will cause the meat to steam instead of browning properly.
  • Toast the dry barley in the pot for two minutes before adding the liquid to bring out a deeper nutty flavor.
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