Hearty Beef and Barley Soup 

This Hearty Beef and Barley Soup is a rich and satisfying dish, perfect for cozy dinners or meal prepping. Tender chunks of beef, sweet carrots, and chewy barley simmer together in a flavorful broth seasoned with garlic, herbs, and a savory tomato base. It's a one-pot meal that's both comforting and nutritious.

 Full Recipe:

 Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat or chuck roast, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2 medium carrots, sliced

• 2 celery stalks, sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 6 cups (1.4 L) beef broth (preferably low-sodium)

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 cup (170 g) pearl barley

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

 Directions

1. Brown the Beef:
   In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry and season with salt and pepper. Sear the beef in batches, about 3 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the second side, until browned. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.

2. Sauté the Vegetables:
   In the same pot, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery for about 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

3. Add Tomato Paste:
   Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.

4. Build the Broth:
   Pour in the beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried rosemary, and dried thyme. Return the browned beef and any accumulated juices to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

5. Simmer the Soup:
   Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat for 45–60 minutes, until the beef is tender.

6. Add Barley:
   Stir in the pearl barley. Cover and continue to simmer for another 45–60 minutes, until the barley is tender.

7. Finish and Serve:
   Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

 Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: Approximately 531 kcal

• Protein: 35 g

• Carbohydrates: 46 g

• Fat: 25 g

• Saturated Fat: 10 g

• Cholesterol: 103 mg

• Sodium: 554 mg

• Fiber: 10 g

• Sugar: 7 g

• Calcium: 218 mg

• Iron: 12 mg

• Potassium: 866 mg

• Vitamin D: 0.1 μg

• Folate (B9): 70 μg

• Magnesium: 79 mg

• Manganese: 2 mg