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Homemade Beef and Extra Barley

homemade beef and extra barley

 

One of my husbands favorite soups is beef and barley. We all know that Campbell’s soup, while convenient, isn’t exactly the best option. It might do in a pinch when nothing else is available but I choose to stay away from packaged food as much as I can. It took me forever to hunt down some barley. Who knew that would be so difficult to find? Husband has been asking for homemade beef and barley for quite some time and I have attempted to search grocery stores for my last few trips now. I was finally able to locate a box. I was hoping for a raw bagged variety, but this will have to do.

Most people like beef and barley as a soup. My husband on the other hand isn’t a fan of soupy soup and he’ll add crackers to his in order to thicken in up. I’m trying to break him of that habit because crackers just don’t provide him with any nutrition. I don’t mind them for a snack once in a while, but certainly not to fill up his soup bowl!

beef and barley soup

I had to do a little bit of experimenting to get it the right consistency. But I was able to provide a nice giant pot of beef and barley that literally lasted two days. I had hoped for a freezer meal but that wasn’t going to happen. Next time I’ll make a double batch to make some freezer meals out of.

Homemade Beef and Extra Barley

Chrystal Mahan YUMeating.com
5 from 8 votes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground Angus beef
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 6 cups of water
  • 2 cups of barley
  • 1 fresh tomato diced
  • 1/4 lb. fresh green beans sliced
  • 2 stalks of celery sliced
  • 2 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 2 TBSP beef flavored soup base
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions
 

  • Using a large stock pot or dutch oven brown beef.
  • Add the onion and garlic. Continue cooking until the onions are tender.
  • Stir frequently.
  • Once beef is brown and onions are tender, drain grease.
  • Add all remaining ingredients except frozen peas.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and add frozen peas.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes
  • If you like your beef and barley to be more like soup, add more water.

 

 

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32 Comments

  1. This looks like a great way to get a grain that we don’t eat very often! Do you have a Winco in your area? Ours has a large bulk section and I know you can buy barley there. Thanks for linking up to Let’s Get Real!

    1. I sure don’t Nicole. I wish I could find some place that had a bulk bin of barley. Maybe a health food store. I would rather pay a little more for an unboxed kind!

  2. You just pointed out one of the perks to cooking meals from scratch. You can make the meals exactly the way you want them! I’m sure your beef barley is quite hardy. My dad used to make homemade beef barley when I was a kid. I’ll have to give it a shot. It looks so good. I wish I had some for lunch today.

  3. I’m totally into the idea of making it at home when you can. You have so much more control over flavor and nutrition, and you can usually make things for so much less! I’m so glad you’re with me at TYSH! HUGS

  4. I think I can honestly say that I have never knowingly eaten barley soup. Your recipe sounds really good to me, I like all of the ingredients. I am willing to try new things, I may just go for it! So glad you shared with us at the Home Matters party!
    Pinning it to my Soups and Stews so we can try it!

    1. I am not sure I ate it growing up either. I know when hubs asked me to make it for him a few years ago I had no idea what I was looking for in the store!

  5. I love beef and barley stew! Your recipe sounds really good. I have all the ingredients so I think I’m going to make it tomorrow for dinner.

  6. I really like soupy soup. I never had trouble finding Barley. That’s just weird. I agree wholeheartedly on the crackers stuff though…my kids love crackers and I am always trying to keep them from over eating the crackers.

  7. 5 stars
    Boy does this look good and just the right time for it too! My husband likes anything with beef so this would be perfect for us.

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