Bacon, Beef and Barley Soup

Name: Bacon, Beef and Barley Soup
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 50 min
Yield: 8 servings (2-1/2 quarts).
Ingredients: 4 bacon strips, diced; 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 medium onions, chopped; 4 medium carrots, chopped; 1/2 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms; 1 cup dry red wine or beef broth; 8 cups beef broth, divided; 4 teaspoons spicy brown mustard; 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 4 fresh thyme sprigs, chopped; 1 bay leaf; 1 cup medium pearl barley; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

With a medley of barley, beef and vegetables, this thick, stew-like soup is brimming with flavor and texture. Every spoonful will warm you from head to toe on cold winter evenings.—Rachel Kohnen, Pomeroy, Iowa

Ingredients

4 bacon strips, diced
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 medium onions, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
1/2 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms
1 cup dry red wine or beef broth
8 cups beef broth, divided
4 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 4 fresh thyme sprigs, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 cup medium pearl barley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Brown beef in drippings. Remove and set aside.
In the same pan, saute the onions, carrots and mushrooms until tender. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in 4 cups broth, mustard, thyme, bay leaf and beef. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until beef is tender.
Stir in the barley, salt, pepper and remaining broth. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until barley is tender. Discard bay leaf. Stir in bacon.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/4 cups: 381 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 1164mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein.

Originally published as Smoky Beef and Barley Stew in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2011

Reviews

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Ellen

Sep 23, 2017

Best beef based soup I have ever made! I even made the mistake of adding the barley with the beef instead of the last hour. It turned out great. I served it in bread bowls from my local bakery and took them up a bowl to try. I may have to add a bit more beef broth when I reheat the leftovers because the barley really thickened it up a lot.
gina.kapfhamer

May 25, 2017

Of all the soups I love, beef and barley holds a special place in my heart. This recipe was perfect! (Though I did use slightly less onion, since I only had one handy - still turned out great!)
partnersincooking

Jun 9, 2014

This is a very hearty soup. The bacon adds a complimentary taste to this dish. The specific mustard listed was also a tasty addition.