Name: Beef and Barley Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Yield: 2-4 people
Cuisine: Modern
Ingredients: 4 ounces cremini mushrooms (trimmed and quartered); 1 small onion (cut into 3/4-inch pieces); 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tsp minced fresh thyme or (1/4 tsp dried ); 1/4 tsp pepper; 3 cups beef broth; 1 carrot (peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces); 1 tbsp soy sauce; 8 oz top sirloin steak (trimmed and cut into ¼-inch pieces); 1/4 cup quick-cooking barley; 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

Beef and Barley Soup

By :Ace Blender Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen

Why This Recipe Works This soup is hearty enough for dinner, so the idea of making it in the blender held great appeal. First, we focused on building a beefy broth without browning the beef in a skillet to create a fond that would infuse the soup with flavor when deglazed. Instead we turned to a potent combo of umami-packed mushrooms and tomato paste plus onion and garlic, which we bloomed in the microwave. Our base assembled, we simply added it to the blender along with beef broth, soy sauce (a test kitchen trick for adding beefy flavor), and chopped carrot for vegetal sweetness. We selected the chunky soup program because we knew we’d want to add thinly sliced beef after the preheating phase so it would cook through but not become pulverized. We used top sirloin because it is so lean and did not make the soup greasy. For the barley, a judicious ¼ cup of quick-cooking barley fit the bill and we added it along with the beef. Be sure to use quick-cooking (sometimes labeled “quick-cooking pearled”) or pre-steamed barley, which has been partially cooked during processing to reduce its cooking time.

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Course

Soup

Cuisine

Modern

Difficulty

Easy

Browse Category

Soups, Stews & Broths

Duration

30-60 min

Cooking Technique

Ace Blender

Main Ingredient

Broth, Cremini Mushrooms, Sirloin Steak

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Servings

2-4 people

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms trimmed and quartered
1 small onion cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp minced fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp dried
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups beef broth
1 carrot peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 tbsp soy sauce
8 oz top sirloin steak trimmed and cut into ¼-inch pieces
1/4 cup quick-cooking barley
2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

Course

Soup

Cuisine

Modern

Difficulty

Easy

Browse Category

Soups, Stews & Broths

Duration

30-60 min

Cooking Technique

Ace Blender

Main Ingredient

Broth, Cremini Mushrooms, Sirloin Steak

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Servings

2-4 people

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms trimmed and quartered
1 small onion cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp minced fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp dried
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups beef broth
1 carrot peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 tbsp soy sauce
8 oz top sirloin steak trimmed and cut into ¼-inch pieces
1/4 cup quick-cooking barley
2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

Instructions

Microwave mushrooms, onion, tomato paste, oil, garlic, thyme, and pepper in bowl, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to Ace blender along with broth, carrot, and soy sauce. Lock lid in place, then select Soup Program 1 (for chunky soups).
Pause program once preheating ends (countdown timer will display 20 minutes). Carefully remove lid and stir in steak and barley. Return lid and resume program. Once program has completed, season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle individual portions with parsley and serve.

Ace Blender Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen

ABOUT THIS BOOK: The first Instant Pot-authorized cookbook for the new Ace Multi-Use Cooking and Beverage Blender offers 68 foolproof recipes utilizing every function to produce hot soups and stews, mains and sides, dips and spreads, sauces, frozen treats, smoothies and cocktails, and more. The Instant Pot Ace Blender became an instant hit for its ability to cook as well as achieve high-speed blending, and fans have been clamoring for trustworthy recipes. Now, America's Test Kitchen answers the call with an indispensable collection of fully tested recipes that show how to use the blender to full advantage. Produce great-tasting soups like butternut squash soup and Mexican chicken soup using the revolutionary "soup" function (which chops, cooks, and purees at the touch of a button). Then venture beyond soups to make easy meals such as chicken cacciatore, Indian vegetable curry, and ground beef chili--all without using the stovetop. You'll also find: * Treats and frozen desserts like Banana Ice Cream, Grapefruit-Elderberry Sorbet, and Dark Chocolate Mousse * Party-ready dips and sauces, including Herbed Spinach Dip, Easy Blender Smoky Tomato and Green Pepper Salsa, Arugula and Ricotta Pesto, and Marinara Sauce * Effortless sides, such as Spicy Zoodles Marinara and Creamy Mashed Cauliflower * Refreshing drinks, from Oat Milk with Ginger and Turmeric to Watermelon-Lime Agua Frescas and Frozen Margaritas Filled with the best tips and techniques the test kitchen discovered while developing these recipes, this is the book every Ace Blender owner needs to get the most out of this game-changing appliance. ABOUT AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN: America's Test Kitchen publishes award-winning cookbooks along with Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines and produces public television's top-rated shows, America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country. It is a very real 15,000-square-foot kitchen located in Boston's Seaport district and is home to more than 60 test cooks, editors, and tasting and testing experts.