Description
Hearty beef barley stew from grandma’s kitchen brings warmth and comfort on chilly days. Rich beef, tender vegetables, and nutty barley mingle in a savory broth that wraps you in delicious nostalgia, promising satisfaction with each comforting spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1” pieces, excess fat trimmed and discarded
Vegetables:
- 2 ribs celery with leaves, finely diced
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¾ cup pearl barley
Instructions
- Craft a flavor foundation by heating olive oil in a robust Dutch oven over medium-high heat, creating a perfect searing environment.
- Transform beef pieces into seasoned morsels by thoroughly coating with salt, pepper, and flour within a mixing bowl, ensuring complete coverage.
- Develop deep flavor profiles by methodically browning beef chunks in batches, achieving a rich golden-brown exterior that seals in succulent juices, then transferring seared pieces to a holding plate.
- Introduce aromatic vegetables to the caramelized pot, gently sautéing celery, onion, and carrots over reduced heat, allowing them to soften and release their natural sweetness while developing complex undertones.
- Elevate the stew’s complexity by incorporating tomato paste, minced garlic, fragrant oregano, and earthy rosemary, stirring continuously to blend herbaceous notes and create a robust flavor foundation.
- Reunite browned beef with vegetable mixture, then flood the pot with beef broth, water, umami-rich tamari, and tangy Worcestershire sauce, bringing the liquid to a vigorous boil before reducing to a gentle simmer and allowing ingredients to meld harmoniously.
- Introduce pearl barley during the final cooking stage, letting the grain absorb surrounding flavors and transform the stew into a hearty, texturally diverse meal that promises comfort and satisfaction.
Notes
- Beef browning seals in rich, deep flavors and creates a delicious caramelized exterior that transforms the entire stew’s taste profile.
- Batch cooking prevents meat from steaming instead of developing a golden-brown crust, ensuring maximum flavor development and tender texture.
- Low and slow simmering allows tough meat cuts to break down gradually, creating meltingly soft protein and infusing the broth with incredible depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg