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Beef & Barley Soup Crock Pot Recipe

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Optional Garnishes:

  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Grated Parmesan cheese

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

  1. Trim excess fat from the beef stew meat and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Wash and chop the vegetables: dice the onion, slice the carrots and celery, and cube the potatoes.

Step 2: Brown the Beef (Optional)

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil.
  2. Sear the beef pieces until they are browned on all sides. This step enhances the flavor but can be skipped if you’re short on time.
  3. Transfer the browned beef to the crock pot.

Step 3: Assemble the Soup in the Crock Pot

  1. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes to the crock pot.
  2. Pour in the beef broth and water. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Add the pearl barley, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

Step 4: Cook the Soup

  1. Cover the crock pot with the lid and set it to low heat for 7–8 hours or high heat for 4–5 hours.
  2. Stir occasionally, especially in the last hour, to ensure the barley doesn’t stick to the bottom and that the flavors are evenly distributed.