Beef And Barley Soup: Heavenly, Healthy, And Hearty

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3/4 lb beef sirloin or 3/4 lb round steak
• salt and pepper
• 1 1/4 tablespoons butter
• 4 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup irish beer
• 1/4 cup barley, rinsed and drained
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1 turnip, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1 potato, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 stalk celery & leaves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (rub between fingers to waken flavor)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed (rub between fingers to waken flavor)
• 1 pinch salt and pepper
• 1 bay leaf

Recipe

• 1 wash beef; pat dry with paper towels. trim away any visible fat; season beef with salt and pepper (to taste). cut into small bite-sized cubes.
• 2 melt butter in a large, heavy-bottom saucepan. transfer the beef to the hot butter and cook over medium heat until brown on all sides.
• 3 add remaining ingredients to saucepan; bring to a boil. reduce heat to simmer and continue cooking, covered, for 1 1/2 hours or until barley is tender and beef is fork-tender.
• 4 remove the bay leaf and laddle into warmed soup bowls. enjoy your soup as a meal complete unto itself or add a lightly-dressed fresh spinach salad and warm crusty french/italian bread.
• 5 cook's tip: for a delicious twist on traditional beef and barley soup, when it's done simmering stir in 4 cups of fresh baby spinach. let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.