Comforting Beef and Vegetable Soup
- Ready In:
- 5hrs 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 11
- Serves:
-
4-6
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 1⁄2 ounces smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1in pieces
- 1 1⁄2 lbs stewing beef, cut into 1in pieces
- 3 onions, sliced
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 1⁄2 quart beef broth
- salt and black pepper
- 3 ounces pearl barley
- 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
directions
- Heat the oil in a large pan or casserole over a medium-high heat and fry the bacon for 3 minutes until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and place into a large bowl.
- Add the beef to the same pan and fry for about 5 minutes until a dark brown colour on all sides (you may need to do this is two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan). Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the bacon.
- Tip the onions into the pan, reduce the heat to medium and sweat the onions for 5-10 minutes until softened and translucent, but not browned.
- Return the beef and bacon to the pan, along with any juices that have collected in the bowl then tip in the carrots, bay leaves and thyme.
- Cover with the broth, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. As soon as it comes to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer very gently for 2-3 hours. Add a splash of water during cooking if necessary to prevent it from drying out.
- Stir in the pearl barley and simmer for a further hour. Finally, add the potatoes and cook for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
- Taste for seasoning and serve with hunks of homemade bread to mop up the juices.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
English_Rose
United Kingdom
I live in Manchester, UK with my fiance and young son. I work at the local hospital in pediatrics and love my job. I also love cooking!! I have a sweet tooth but try and make healthy family meals, I'm not against some lovely treats now and then though :)