Short Rib and Barley Stew Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated March 07, 2019
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J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

When you grind as much meat as I do, you often find yourself with an extra pound or two of short rib lying around. You could braise it whole in red wine and be all French, or you could cook it for a few days sous-vide like a fancy-pants, and both are great techniques. Sometimes, though, I'm just in the mood for something simpler.

Short rib and barley stew is fantastic because it:
a) is dumb easy to do b) is made with pantry and fridge staples (aside from the short rib) c) lasts for days and gets better with time d) soothes the soul or warms the cockles of your heart, or if you're really lucky, both at the same time, and e) tastes really, really good.

The method is pretty straightforward: sear the meat to add a bit of flavor, sauté the vegetables, then simmer the whole thing down with a bit of marmite, soy sauce and tomato paste added for that umami kick.

Throughout the winter months, there's usually a few leaves of kale kicking around my fridge, since they make such a great salad (just marinate with olive oil and vinegar for a couple of hours—it stays crisp for days even after dressing!), and they go a long way in making this stew even tastier and heartier. If you prefer a beef and barley soup, just add some more stock at the end to thin it out to the desired consistency.

Recipe Details

Short Rib and Barley Stew Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 0 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless beef short ribs, cut into 1-inch chunks

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 2 medium carrots, split in half and sliced into 1/2-inch chunks (about 1 cup)

  • 2 medium ribs celery, split in half and sliced into 1/2-inch chunks (about 1 cup)

  • 1 large onion, finely diced (about 1 1/2 cups total)

  • 1/2 teaspoon Marmite

  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, grated on a microplane grater (about 2 teaspoons)

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 1 quart low sodium chicken broth (preferably homemade)

  • 1 (14.4 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped

  • 1 cup pearl barley

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 4 cups loosely packed kale leaves, roughly torn

Directions

  1. Season short ribs with salt and pepper and toss in a large bowl to coat. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over high heat until smoking. Add the beef and cook without moving until well-browned on first side, about 5 minutes. Stir beef and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until browned all over, about 10 minutes total, reducing heat if bottom of pan begins to burn. Return meat to bowl and set aside.

  2. Return pan to medium-high heat and add carrots, celery, and onion. Cook, stirring frequently until vegetables begin to brown, about 4 minutes total. Add marmite, soy sace, garlic, and tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  3. Add broth and scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan with wooden spoon. Add tomatoes, barley, and bay leaves. Return beef to pot. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce to lowest possible heat and place cover on pot, leaving lid slightly ajar. Cook, stirring occasionally until beef is completely tender and barley is cooked through, about 2 hours. Stir in kale leaves and cook, stirring constantly until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or for best flavor, chill and refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
398Calories
25gFat
15gCarbs
29gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories398
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g33%
Saturated Fat 10g49%
Cholesterol 94mg31%
Sodium 495mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 15g6%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 18mg90%
Calcium 65mg5%
Iron 4mg20%
Potassium 602mg13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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