This Beef & Barley One-Pot Meal is a Weeknight Winner | Beef and Barley Soup

beef

🥗Healthier: lean beef

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Lean beef has lower fat content, while ground beef is often more affordable.

barley

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: rice

Quinoa is higher in protein and nutrients, while rice is a budget-friendly grain.

Cut beef chuck into bite-sized pieces, about 2 cups.

Pat the beef dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.

Wash and roll cut the carrots (amount unspecified) or cut them in any shape you prefer.

Chop 4 ribs of celery, 1 yellow onion, and 8 cloves of garlic roughly.

Chop fresh rosemary and thyme, saving the stems for future use.

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium heat.

Once the oil is hot, add the beef and brown it for about 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides.

Remove the browned beef from the pot and add more oil if necessary.

Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes until they start to sweat and get a tiny amount of color.

Add the chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of coriander, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika to the pot.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of beef base and 4 cups of water, adjusting as needed, along with 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar.

Bring the mixture back to a boil, then add the beef back into the pot along with all the accumulated juices and the chopped rosemary and thyme.

Lower the heat to medium and cook for about an hour until the beef starts to soften slightly.

After an hour, add 2 cups of barley and stir it in, adding more water as necessary (up to 8 cups total) to help the barley cook through.

Bring the mixture back to a high boil, then reduce the heat and cook for about 30 minutes or until the barley is cooked through and the beef is tender.

Throughout the cooking, open the lid occasionally to stir and prevent sticking at the bottom.

Finish with a good amount of chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: