Hearty Beef Barley Vegetable Stew (Print View)
A comforting blend of beef, barley, and vegetables simmered to rich, hearty perfection.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1½ lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
08 - 1 cup frozen peas
09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, with juice
→ Grains
10 - ⅔ cup pearl barley, rinsed
→ Liquids
11 - 6 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
12 - 1 cup water
→ Herbs & Spices
13 - 2 bay leaves
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
17 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the beef and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
03 - Return the beef to the pot. Stir in potatoes, diced tomatoes with juice, barley, beef broth, water, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add the frozen peas, cover, and cook for an additional 15–20 minutes, until the beef is fork-tender and barley is cooked through.
06 - Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It fills your whole house with that slow-cooked comfort that makes people gravitate toward the kitchen
- The pearl barley becomes tender and creamy, giving the stew a satisfying heartiness without being heavy
02 -
- Barley keeps expanding as it cooks, so do not be tempted to add more than the recipe calls for or you will end up with soup instead of stew
- Resist lifting the lid too often during that first simmer since every release of steam adds another 10 minutes to the cooking time
03 -
- A splash of red wine added with the vegetables brings a depth that makes everyone wonder what your secret ingredient is
- Stir occasionally toward the end of cooking so the barley does not settle and stick to the bottom of the pot