Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast (trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubed)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus more as needed )
  • salt (as needed )
  • black pepper (as needed )
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 4-5 large carrots (peeled and diced)
  • 6 large cloves garlic (rough chopped)
  • 16 ounces cremini mushrooms (trimmed and quartered)
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes (including juice)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Better than Bouillon~beef flavor
  • 2 (32-ounce each) cartons beef stock
  • 4-6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley
  • 1 cup frozen green beans (thawed and well-drained)
  • 1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Instruction

  • Pat the meat dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, until it begins to shimmer. Add the beef (2 pounds) in batches and cook until well browned on all sides. Remove the browned meat to a plate; set aside. Continue with remaining beef, adding more oil as needed. Lower the heat through the browning process, as needed, if the meat or fond (little brown bits on the bottom of the pan) begin to burn.
  • If no oil is remaining in the pan, add 2 tablespoons. Add onion (1 medium) and carrots (4-5 large) to the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits and cook over medium heat until they just begin to soften about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms (16 ounces) and garlic (6 large cloves) and cook until mushrooms soften, another 4 minutes or so.
  • Return the browned beef, as well as any juices that have accumulated to the Dutch oven. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 black pepper to the pan. Crush the whole tomatoes (1 (28-ounce) can) with your hand and add to the pan. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the barley is cooked and the beef is tender about 1 hour. Remove rosemary and thyme stems. Adjust seasoning and serve.