Beef Barley Soup Hearty Beef and Barley Stew with Garden Vegetables Ingredients: 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 carrots, peeled and diced 2 celery stalks, diced 1 cup pearl barley 6 cups beef broth 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon dried thyme 2 bay leaves Salt and black pepper to taste 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped (optional) Directions: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove beef and set aside. In the same pot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Return beef to the pot and add beef broth, diced tomatoes, barley, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until beef is tender and barley is cooked through. If using, stir in spinach or kale and cook for an additional 5 minutes until greens are wilted. Remove bay leaves before serving. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Kcal: 320 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #beefsoup #barleysoup #heartymeal #comfortfood #stewsoup #homemade #slowcooker #easyrecipes #souprecipes #healthymeals #winterfood #beefrecipes #wholegrains #souplover #comfortfoodrecipes #onepotmeal #winterwarmers #mealprep #nutritionpacked #homecooking Warm up with a bowl of hearty Beef Barley Soup — tender beef, wholesome barley, and fresh veggies make the perfect comforting meal! 🥣🍲🥕