Beef Barley Soup

Recipe courtesy of The Beef Checkoff.

Tip: For gluten allergy concerns, replace barley with white cannellini beans.

Recipe Ingredients:

3 pounds beef shank cross cuts, cut 1-inch thick
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery with leaves
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup medium pearl barley
1 (9-ounce) package frozen French-cut green beans or use fresh beans

Cooking Directions:

1. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until hot.
2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic; cook and stir 5 min. or until tender.
3. Add beef, 5 c. water, salt, thyme, pepper and bay leaf; bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1 hr.
5. Remove beef. Cut meat from bones; cut beef into 3/4" pieces.
6. Skim fat from soup.
7. Stir in beef and barley; continue cooking, covered, 50 to 60 min. or until beef and barley are tender.
8. Add green beans (and cannellini beans if replacing barley); bring to a boil.
9. Reduce heat; simmer 2 to 3 min. or until beans are tender.
10. Discard bay leaf.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/6 of recipe): Calories: 267; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Total Carbs: 10g; Fiber: 3g; Protein: 39g; Sodium: 648mg.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of The Beef Checkoff.