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Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup

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A cozy, comforting soup combining tender beef stew meat and chewy pearl barley in a rich, flavorful broth, made quickly and easily in the Instant Pot.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and heat olive oil until shimmering. Add the beef stew meat in batches, not overcrowding the pot, and brown on all sides for about 5-7 minutes per batch. Remove beef and set aside.
  2. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, careful not to burn it.
  3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour in about 1/2 cup beef broth, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to lift all the flavorful browned bits.
  4. Return browned beef to the pot. Add pearl barley, remaining beef broth (5 1/2 cups), Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on high for 25 minutes. Once done, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes, then carefully quick release any remaining pressure.
  6. Open the lid, stir the soup. If too thick, add a splash of broth or water and stir in. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Notes

Brown the beef in batches to avoid steaming and ensure good flavor. Rinse barley briefly to reduce starch and prevent gluey texture. Use natural pressure release for tender beef. Adjust salt at the end to avoid over-salting. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, beef and barley soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, pressure cooker soup, hearty soup, cozy meals

Find it online: https://evabake.com/instant-pot-beef-and-barley-soup-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-cozy-comfort-meals/