I know, I know. Leftover prime rib in a SOUP? Blasphemy. But you guys, I made SO MUCH PRIME RIB for Christmas dinner. Too much. It was my first time making it and now I know better for next time. So I made beef broth from scratch with the bones and chopped up the leftover meat to add to this soup. And you know what? IT WAS AMAZING. You could use leftover steak, pot roast, beef tenderloin, or roast beef in this beef barley soup… literally whatever you have. (Or, if you don’t have already cooked beef, you can use chuck or round roast. See recipe notes for how.)
Can Beef Barley Soup be frozen?
This beef barley soup is one of those soul-satisfying, hearty, delicious meals that you simply can’t live without during the cold months. It’s packed with protein, grains, and vegetables- a complete meal made in one pot that makes a TON and freezes beautifully. In fact, I packed up half of it, froze it, and took over to our friends who are due with their second baby in only another week. It’s such a good thing to stock your freezer with! I like to freeze soups in an airtight container. When I’m ready to eat it, I run some hot water over the container to loosen it up. Then, I pop out the entire frozen block into a pot and heat it up on the stove. If it seems too thick, I’ll add a little bit of water to thin it out (since some of the liquid can evaporate in the freezer).
Is Beef Barley Soup Gluten-Free?
For the longest time, I thought that the only food containing gluten was wheat. Nope! Barley is another grain that contains gluten, along with rye, spelt, and a few others. So if you’re looking for a gluten-free version, don’t use barley. Instead, substitute rice. Or, you could even use gluten-free oats! There are a lot of savory oat recipes out there, including some Irish soups and stews, and it would have a similar texture and starchiness to barley.
Can I make this Beef Barley Soup in my slow cooker?
This recipe for Beef Barley Soup is made on the stovetop, but it’s easy to adapt it to the slow cooker. I prefer using the stovetop because it’s faster (and I was hungry), and because you can sauté the vegetables directly in the pot which results in deeper flavor. But to make this in your slow cooker, just add all the ingredients except for the beef, peas, and parsley to your crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, or until the barley is tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients when it’s done and allow to heat up for another 5-10 minutes. Easy peasy! I like this recipe for beef barley soup because it’s packed with so many vegetables. It’s a new year, and although I don’t usually make specific food resolutions in terms of a strict diet, I have been thinking about how to eat more vegetables. This beef barley soup is a bit healthier than others in the fact that it uses less beef and more veggies. A whole pound of mushrooms, a ton of peas, carrots, and celery, with a few potatoes thrown in there. There are so many reasons to eat more vegetables and less meat- the health aspect, the environmental impact, the cost… and while I am not a vegetarian, I absolutely want to start packing more vegetables into my diet in 2019. Did you make any New Years Resolutions around food? I’d love to know what they were in the comments! If you like this Beef Barley Soup with Mushrooms, you’ll love this Barley and Lentil Salad with Fresh Dill Vinaigrette, this Instant Pot Split Pea Soup, and this One-Pot Orzo with Mushrooms, Browned Butter, and Thyme. You also may be interested in how to sauté the mushrooms so they’re packed with flavor and perfectly browned. And you’ve got to check out this recipe for stuffed portobello mushrooms for more mushroom deliciousness! Here’s the printable recipe!
