Alberta Beef Barley Stew Recipes

CLASSIC BEEF AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Pre-cook the beef: Combine the water, beef, red wine vinegar and salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Drain, discarding liquid and reserving the beef. Allow to cool slightly, then chop into desired size for soup (or make ahead and refrigerate until needed).
• For the soup: In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery and carrots to the pot and cook, stirring, for 6-7 minutes. Add red wine to the pot and allow to cook until mostly evaporated. Add the tomato paste and stir in. Cook the tomato paste with the vegetables for about 1 minute. Add the beef broth, cooked beef pieces, pearl barley and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
• Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and allow soup to simmer gently for 60-75 minutes. Watch the soup as it cooks and stir regularly. As the barley cooks, it will absorb the liquid. You may find that you need to add additional beef broth to the pot as the soup cooks. You don't want the soup to get too dry or the barley will sink to the bottom of the pot and may scorch. Ideally, add a bit of broth more often, rather than adding a lot all at one time, so you don't end up with too much broth in the pot and a thinner soap than you want.
• Taste test the soup to make sure the barley and carrots are tender. If not, cook a little bit longer. If soup is too thick, add a bit more broth at the end of cooking to thin it as desired. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and parsley. Taste soup for seasoning and add additional salt and some freshly ground pepper, to taste.

BEEF AND BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season steak with salt and pepper, to taste. Add to the stockpot and cook, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned, about 6-8 minutes; set aside. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the stockpot. Stir in beef stock, barley, thyme, bay leaf and steak. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until barley is tender, about 45 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper, to taste.* Serve immediately.

BARLEY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Season beef with salt and black pepper; coat with flour, shaking off excess.
• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot; cook and stir beef until browned on all sides. Remove beef with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onion, cabbage, celery, carrots, and garlic; cook and stir until carrots are softened and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, rosemary, thyme, and barley. Return beef to Dutch oven and continue to cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Stir water, beer, and beef bouillon into beef mixture; bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until beef and barley are tender, about 90 minutes. Add brown sugar and vinegar. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes more.

CHEF JOHN'S BEEF AND BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Season beef all over with kosher salt and black pepper.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over high heat. Cook beef in hot oil until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer beef to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium, and stir onion into the same pot with a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onion is soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir tomato paste into onion mixture; cook and stir until tomato paste is brick red, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour broth into onion mixture. Add celery, carrots, bay leaf, and rosemary. Return beef with any accumulated juices to pot; push beef down to cover with cooking liquid.
• Bring broth mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and cook until beef is fork-tender, 2 to 3 hours. Transfer beef to a bowl.
• Pour barley into cooking liquid, bring to a simmer, and cook until barley is tender, about 45 minutes. Return beef to pot, cover the pot, and cook until heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Ladle stew into bowls and garnish with parsley and horseradish.

BARLEY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown beef and onion in oil until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add water, tomato sauce, carrots, celery, salt, oregano, paprika and pepper. , Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Add the beans, corn and barley; cover and cook on low 2 hours longer or until barley, beef and vegetables are tender. Freeze option: Place individual portions of cooled stew in freezer containers and freeze up to 3 months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

BEEF BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, brown meat in oil in batches. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, saute onion until crisp-tender. Add the broth, barley, seasonings and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. , Add carrots; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30-40 minutes or until meat and carrots are tender. Add parsley just before serving.