Beef stew with vegetables and barley
Ingredients
- 45 ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) stewing beef, cut into cubes
- 6 carrots, cut into thick rounds
- 3 celery stalks, cut into chunks
- 1 medium leek, cut into 1 cm (3/8 in.) rounds
- 500 ml (2 cups) mushrooms, cut into quarters
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) cornstarch
- 250 ml (1 cup) red wine
- 1 L (4 cups) hot beef broth
- 180 ml (3/4 cup) pearl barley
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) tomato paste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) fresh parsley, chopped
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F).
- In a large oven-safe pot, heat half of the oil and brown the beef cubes in two or three batches. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, heat the remaining oil and brown the vegetables.
- Add the garlic and cornstarch.
- Deglaze with the red wine.
- Stir in the hot broth, barley and tomato paste.
- Add the meat, stir and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and place in the oven for 1 hour.
- Reduce the temperature to 120°C (250°F) and continue cooking for 2 1/2 to 3 hours (the beef cubes should pull apart with a fork).
- Serve in soup plates, garnished with parsley.
Variant:
Omit the barley and add cubes of potatoes 1 hour before the end of the cooking time.

