Beef and Barley Stew

A thick, wholesome stew with pearl barley that soaks up all the beefy flavours. Old-fashioned and brilliant.

Ingredients

• 500g diced stewing beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, chunked
• 2 sticks celery, sliced
• 150g pearl barley, rinsed
• 1 beef stock cube dissolved in 800ml water
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Place the pearl barley in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Add the vegetables, then the beef on top.
3. Pour over the stock and add the tomato puree, thyme, and bay leaf.
4. Cook on Low for 8 hours.
5. Remove the bay leaf, stir well, and serve.

Tips

Pearl barley swells up and thickens the stew beautifully. It’s cheap, filling, and adds a lovely chewy texture.