Northern Spice-Infused Beef Stew with Barley

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-07 · Updated 2026-07-07

A robust beef stew simmered with warming northern spices and pearl barley, creating a thick, comforting dish perfect for cold nights. This Northern European-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 130 minutes, pairs Beef chuck, cubed, Pearl barley, Carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Beef chuck, cubed
• 3/4 cup Pearl barley
• 3 medium, diced Carrots
• 2 diced Celery stalks
• 1 large, chopped Onion
• 3 minced Garlic cloves
• 6 cups Beef broth
• 2 tbsp Tomato paste
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 tsp Ground allspice
• 1 tsp Ground coriander
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped Fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 2 lbs cubed beef chuck and brown on all sides, about 6-8 minutes; transfer beef to a plate.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large chopped onion, 3 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and onions become translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp ground allspice, and 1 tsp ground coriander; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Return beef to the pot, add 6 cups beef broth, 3/4 cup pearl barley, 2 bay leaves, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours until beef and barley are tender.
5. Step 5: Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning if needed, and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.