Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew
Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew pairs slow-simmered beef shank with nutty pearl barley and aromatic vegetables for a deeply savory bowl that warms you through. Tomato paste, rosemary, and bay leaf enrich the broth, while fresh parsley and a touch of raw horseradish add brightness at the end. Ideal for chilly evenings when you want something hearty and satisfying.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook3 hrs 20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 39 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 84 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 52
- Heart Health
- 78
- Metabolic
- 58
- Digestive
- 43
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 57
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Season the beef all over with kosher salt and black pepper.
- 3
Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Cook the beef in the hot oil until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.
- 4
Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the same pot with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 5
Stir in the tomato paste; cook, stirring, until the tomato paste turns brick red, 2 to 3 minutes.
- 6
Pour in the broth.
- 7
Add the celery, carrots, rosemary, and bay leaf.
- 8
Return the beef with any accumulated juices to the pot; press the beef down so it is covered by the cooking liquid.
- 9
Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook until the beef is fork-tender, 2 to 3 hours. Transfer the beef to a large bowl.
- 10
Add the barley to the cooking liquid in the pot; bring to a simmer and cook until the barley is tender, about 45 minutes.
- 11
Return the beef to the pot. Cover and cook until heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.
- 12
Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with parsley and horseradish.
- Calories 1063.67 kcal High 53%
- Protein 39.22 g Good Source 78%
- Carbohydrate 189.38 g 69%
- Total Fat 15.97 g High 20%
- Saturated Fat 1.33 g Moderate 7%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 18.7 mg Moderate 6%
- Sodium 2640.43 mg High 115%
- Dietary Fiber 15.9 g Good Source 57%
- Total Sugars 23.95 g --
- Added Sugars 0.07 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 52.88 mg Low Source 4%
- Iron 12.12 mg Good Source 67%
- Potassium 405.38 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 44.4 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 7.42 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew is an American dinner recipe made with 14 ingredients. It takes about 3 hrs 50 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Barley, Celery, Chicken Broth, and Diced Carrots. Each serving provides about 1063.67 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew?
- It is an American stew recipe made with 14 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew made of?
- The main ingredients are Barley, Celery, Chicken Broth, Diced Carrots, Dried Bay Leaves. The full list of 14 is above.
- What goes well with Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew?
- Explore these American side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew?
- About 3 hrs 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 3 hrs 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1063.67 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 12 steps.
- Is Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew healthy?
- Chef John's Beef and Barley Stew has an easyChef Pro health score of 56/100. Per serving, it provides 1063.67 calories and 39.22 g of protein, or 78% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 2640.43 mg (115% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.33 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Celery, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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