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Hearty Beef and Barley Stew

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A quick and easy homemade comfort food stew combining tender beef, chewy barley, and vibrant vegetables, ready in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley (about 150 grams)
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup water (optional, for adjusting stew consistency)

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat from beef chuck roast and cut into 1-inch cubes. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. In batches, sear beef cubes until browned on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add diced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic in the last minute.
  4. Pour in about 1/4 cup beef broth or water to deglaze the pot, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon.
  5. Return browned beef to the pot. Stir in remaining beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped thyme, and bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper.
  6. Add pearl barley and stir to combine.
  7. Bring stew to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20-25 minutes until beef is tender and barley is cooked, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed.
  8. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning. For thicker stew, simmer uncovered for a few minutes.
  9. Serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

Brown the beef thoroughly for best flavor. Soak pearl barley for 30 minutes beforehand to reduce cooking time if desired. Adjust liquid levels during simmering to prevent drying out. For gluten-free, substitute barley with quinoa or millet and use gluten-free broth. Leftovers taste better after a day and reheat well with added broth or water.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, barley stew, comfort food, quick stew, easy dinner, hearty stew, homemade stew

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/hearty-beef-and-barley-stew-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food-in-30-minutes/