Who doesn’t love the smell of homemade soup wafting through the kitchen on a cold winter evening?
Nutritious barley, hearty beef and colorful veggies combine to make this soup recipe one worth adding to your favorites. Pearl barley is an ancient grain known as a delicious source of dietary fiber, and is the perfect complement to mushrooms and beef.
This low-calorie soup will become a family favorite, as it’s just as convenient as it is delicious. Throw the ingredients in a slow cooker and a few hours later you’ve got the perfect dinner dish!
Time: 4-8 hours
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 pound lean beef stew meat, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 8 ounces button mushrooms, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups water
- 6 3/4 teaspoons beef base
- 14 1/2 ounces canned diced tomatoes, with their juices
- 1/2 cup pearl barley
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons parsley leaves, optional
Instructions:
- While chopping vegetables, prepare beef broth. In a large pot, dissolve 6 3/4 teaspoons (equal to 2 tablespoons + 1/4 teaspoon) beef broth powder in 6 cups of boiling water. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat.
- Dry off the meat with paper towels and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the meat to the pan and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes total.
- Transfer to a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the skillet. Add the onion and saute until the onion begins to soften, roughly four minutes. Stir frequently. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Move the mixture from the skillet into the slow cooker.
- Add the carrots, celery, mushrooms, broth, tomatoes, barley and thyme to the slow cooker and stir to mix well.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm with a sprinkling of parsley, if desired.
Nutrition facts (per serving):
- Calories182
- Fat 5 grams [Saturated Fat 1.1 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Monounsaturated Fat 1.8 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g]
- Protein 15.3 grams
- Sodium 630 mgs
- Carbohydrates 17.6 grams
- Fiber 4 grams