Classic and comforting vegetable beef soup gets a nutritional boost with chewy barley.
Fall is in the air and which means soup season is in full force in our house! Today’s soup is an iconic classic straight from my mother’s kitchen– complete with V8 and all of it’s delicious, tomato-filled goodness! (Does anyone else always order tomato juice on plane rides?)
Of course, I had to put my Lemon Bowl spin on the original recipe by swapping out white potatoes for nutty, chewy and delicious hull-less barley. If you’ve never cooked with barley before, I urge you to give this recipe a shot as it is 100% fool-proof! And, unlike noodles, you don’t need to cook them separately first as they do not expand and accidentally turn your soup into pasta. :-)
As always, the recipe is a guide and not a rulebook. Not a fan of celery? Skip it! Don’t have any frozen veggies? Leave them out. Just don’t blame me when you miss out on those cute little green lima beans. You know you love them, too.
Your fork is waiting.
Vegetable Beef & Barley Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef stew meat
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 c beef broth low sodium
- 46 oz can V8
- 1 tbs worcestershire sauce
- ½ c cooked barley hull-less or regular
- 2 c frozen mix vegetables
- fresh parsley and crusty bread to serve optional
Instructions
- Heat a large stew pot over medium high heat and spray with non-stick spray.
- Season beef with a heavy pinch of kosher salt and black pepper then add to hot pan.
- Let meat sear on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side; remove from pan and set aside.
- Add diced onions, carrots and celery to the pot and saute for 8-10 minutes over medium heat until softened.
- Season veggies with thyme and oregano then stir in beef broth, V8 juice, barley and worcestershire sauce.
- Add beef back to the pan and bring soup to a boil.
- Stir in frozen veggies then simmer on low for 60-90 minutes or until beef is tender.
- Serve with fresh parsley and crusty, whole grain bread.
Jane
So I have to cook the barley before adding it to the soup? Do you still start with 1/2 cup raw barley or less than that bc it expands? I have never used barley before and want to make sure I understand. Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
Nope the barley cooks in the soup! 1/2 cup raw is what you start with. Does that help?
mary
I love the look of this page with the colorful photo inserts up top!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you!!
mary
looks good. I’ll try this recipe. love the V8 and worchestershire sauce touches!
Liz DellaCroce
I love you!
mary
I don’t use thyme, oregano or frozen veggies. try a few crushed juniper berries & any supplemental beef flavorings.
Carrie
I’m cooking this right now. I notice that you left out adding the meat back in (unless I’m blind). I added it back with the V8 and broth. Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
You are not blind – woops!! Sorry about that!! Recipe has been updated. Thank you for bringing to my attention!! Let me know how the soup turns out. :)
Carrie
It was good and I’ll make it again. Thanks!