One Pot Beef and Barley Soup

Imagine the aroma of a hearty One-Pot Beef and Barley Soup simmering away in your kitchen. Instead of hours on the stove, the Instant Pot has it ready in a fraction of the time. Tender chunks of beef are seared to perfection, creating a rich, savoury base. Sautéd onions, carrots, and celery add their natural sweetness, enhancing the deep, robust flavor of the beef.
Add a generous portion of barley, which will cook to a delightfully chewy texture, absorbing all the flavours of the broth.
In under an hour, you have a bowl of warmth that tastes like it’s been simmering all day. The beef is melt-in-your-mouth tender, the barley is perfectly cooked, and the vegetables are soft yet retain a bit of bite. Each spoonful delivers a taste of home, filling you with a sense of comfort and satisfaction. This Instant Pot beef and barley soup is not just a meal; it’s an experience of flavour and convenience, perfect for busy days when you crave something wholesome and delicious.
This hearty dish combines two of the oldest cultivated foods: beef and barley.

Barley is one of the oldest grains cultivated by humans, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient Mesopotamia around 10,000 years ago. It was a staple in ancient diets due to its nutritional value and versatility. Barley was often used in soups and stews, a typical food preparation method in ancient times.
During the Middle Ages, barley was a staple grain for many European communities, particularly in northern and eastern regions where it thrived in the colder climate. Although less commonly consumed than today, beef was also a part of the medieval diet, especially among the nobility and during times of surplus. Beef and barley soup was a practical dish, utilizing preserved meats and hardy grains to create a nourishing meal that could sustain people through harsh winters.
In Scotland, barley is a traditional crop, and beef and barley soup, known as "Scotch broth," is a classic dish. Scotch broth typically includes lamb or mutton, but beef is also commonly used. The soup is a testament to Scottish agricultural practices and the importance of barley in the local diet. It has been a staple in Scottish households for centuries, celebrated for its ability to provide warmth and sustenance.
As people migrated and cultures mingled, beef and barley soup evolved. In North America, it became popular among settlers who brought their culinary traditions. The soup adapted to local ingredients and cooking methods, but the core elements—beef, barley, and vegetables—remained constant.
Today, beef and barley soup is enjoyed worldwide. It is appreciated for its rich flavor, nutritional benefits, and comforting qualities. Modern conveniences like the Instant Pot have made preparing easier, allowing even the busiest individuals to enjoy this historic and hearty dish.
👇 RECIPE BELOW
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It would certainly go a long way in helping me ❤️

Remember, when following a recipe, you must taste the dish as you go along. All recipes may require some adjustments to suit your personal preferences. These recipes are complete and make for great foundations you can tailor. I hope you enjoy cooking as much as I do.
Taking Cooking food back to basics.

Ingredients
- 1 lb (750g) beef stew meat, cut into small cubes, I used chuck roll.
- 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups beef broth -granules/stock cube
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf - optional
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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[chiccabay]

I love Barley...I enjoy watching you cook and have made many of of your recipes and I always thumb up even if don´t comment.These good old recipes many of us Brits grew up with and can make already but you always find a "twist"..I think it´s fantastic that you have lots of folk from different parts of the world here visiting your channel and young people, and some older ones, who will benefit so much from your skills in the kitchen. It´s great to see the channel don´t know how you manage to answer all the comments still. ....x

[missymurphy]

When I cannot afford meat I make red lentil, barley and vegetable soup, yummy, with bread it's a full meal . 🇦🇺💜

[lilliankeane]

It’s winter in Australia, that’s just what I need! Thanks Rik!

[sarahthomas]

I love that you don't preach like a fancy cooking instructor, you just cook like a normal person. 😊

[TheRickie]

We forgot about these nourrishing soups. We often had cooked beef with horseradish sauce and taters on Sundays, and Saturday evening such a soup with chunks of the lovely meat. A wonderful dinner...thank you for the delicious reminder!

[muncgrl]

Love any soup. I would cook this in the crock pot. I am afraid of any pressure-cooking device. My mother once had her pressure cooker blow up on her and the lid imbedded in the ceiling. Your wife is a very lucky woman getting to eat your cooking.

[Curlyblonde]

This is a great favourite in our area in northern Canada and I cook this often in our Soup Kitchen when the weather turns cold (can get to -50C in Dec.-Jan. here), especially for people who have to spend time outdoors in those bitter temperatures. Good economical source for nutrition and a high energy, satisfying food.
Depending on the budget and donations, I use stew meat, minced beef or cube up an Eat Your Boots tough cut of beef as you did. Moose and deer meat (which can be chewy) work very well also but I have to add a good quantity of diced tomatoes to tame the meat flavor. Then you can't tell the difference from beef.
If you use less liquid and add some cubed potatoes, then you have Beef Barley Casserole, another crowd pleaser and a good satisfying meal for people who work physically hard outdoors in nasty weather. Even among the fussy, Full of Food Restrictions People, no one turns away a bowl of this soup or casserole.

[brendarigdonsbrensden.]

Please do more soups as I adore soups and stews all year. Barley soup with a big fat fluffy dumpling ❤️❤️❤️🥰👍🏼

[annapayne]

I'm saving this video for later.. Love beef and barley soup, and this looks like a really good recipe.. Your finished product looks delectable! I'm in Texas, and it's really heating up for Summer.. This would make a lovely Winter meal. Your recipes are so nice.

[bonniejordan]

Oh yeah….I’ll be trying this one. Love barley. Nice write up 😃

[simplyrita]

I don't have an instant pot but slow cooker should do the trick!

[tlb]

I absolutely love soups and stews. So much so that I have to remind myself not to make them too often for Sunday dinner, because some in my large family are not as addicted as I am.
I especially love old tried and true family recipes handed down through the ages. I also love discovering international recipes, especially the many regional versions of Asian broth recipes.
Thanks for this, another great video!
I'll be heading out to the grocery store shortly to make this one for supper this evening.

[missymurphy]

I use to make lamb shanks, barley and vegetable soup when kids were young. These days I would have to take out a loan to buy lamb shanks 😂😂😂🇦🇺🇦🇺💜💜😊

[joaniemarjoriemarriott]

Second time that I have watched and I gained more confidence using the instant pot pressure cooking method. My next grocery shopping includes a budget cut of beef and more barley grains. I can taste this soup in my mind as it was a frequent winter meal during my childhood on a Cariboo Region cattle ranch. A pot was often simmering on the enormous wood stove to feed and warm the hungry workmen and grandchildren like me.

[joaniemarjoriemarriott]

yum, thank you for another Instant Pot recipe. Barley likes to be tender as with the budget minded beef selection. great to indicate the shrinkage of beef cubes to obtain a decent finished chunk on one's spoon when eating.

[marcog.]

In a rainy ☔ day like today, I'd love to enjoy that TREMENDOUS soup, thanks Nik! Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹

[davidmurphy]

I absolutely love soup, whatever the season & this looks like a belter Rik, plenty of crusty buttered bread for dunking & you have an economical, filling & nutritious complete meal! Still saving up to buy my instant pot, but hope to eventually purchase one next month 🤞. This will be the first recipe I’ll try, look forward to it!😋 Thanks as always for sharing Rik, much appreciated! xx 👨‍🍳🥣 😋👌💖

[johnraisbeck]

Rik you are the most realistic chef out there! These staples have been around forever and you just brought it to a new level using today’s technology! Great work!

[PAM-udlv]

Hi Rik I have recently bought a pressure cooker and I I’m enjoying making the soups. Can’t believe how quick they cook. Thanks Rik I’ll try this one.

[pamelataylor]

I love soup and I definitely love barley, yummo!!! I could live on soup I’d have it 3 X a day and be happy lol. Thanks for the video Rik.