HEARTY BEEF WITH BARLEY SOUP

Hearty Beef With Barley Soup image

Provided by Tammy Sullivan

Time 1h35m

Number Of Ingredients 20

2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 c all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp salt and pepper
1 1/2 lb beef stew meat, cut into 3/4" - 1" cubes
4 c beef broth
5 c water
2 Tbsp beef base (or 2 cubes of beef bouillon)
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 clove garlic, chopped finely
2 bay leaves
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp oregano, dried
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 medium onion, diced
3 celery ribs, diced
1 c carrots, diced
1 1/2 c mushrooms, chopped
3/4 c pearl barley, uncooked

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch Oven over medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan. While the pan is heating up, in a shallow dish combine flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix together. Dredge stew beef in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Place flour-coated beef in the pan. Brown meat on all sides. (It is best to brown meat in two batches) Add all meat to pot.
2. Add the following ingredients to pot: beef broth, water, beef base, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, bay leaves, onion powder, oregano, and nutmeg. Let pot come to a boil, reduce heat to medium - low to simmer soup mixture for 30 minutes.
3. After 30 minutes add onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, and barley. Simmer for additional 30 minutes, stirring often.
4. Ladle into your favorite soup bowl and enjoy.