Barley Burger Stew
Originally published as Barley Burger Stew in Taste of Home October/November 2000, p11 I found this hearty stew recipe in an old cookbook purchased at a flea market. The blend of beef and barley really hits the spot on cool days.
Originally published as Barley Burger Stew in Taste of Home October/November 2000, p11 I found this hearty stew recipe in an old cookbook purchased at a flea market. The blend of beef and barley really hits the spot on cool days.
- Carbohydrate 37.8739037580128 g
- Cholesterol 77.1107029 mg
- Fat 17.8430445160256 g
- Fiber 6.81176033170712 g
- Protein 26.5946476313269 g
- Saturated Fat 6.81713134322949 g
- Serving Size 1 1 (514g)
- Sodium 838.794353231491 mg
- Sugar 31.0621434263057 g
- Trans Fat 2.58186987450064 g
- Calories 410 calories
Step-by-step
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook beef, onion and celery until meat is no longer pink; drain.
- Stir in the tomato juice, water, barley, chili powder, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes or until barley is tender.
Simmering medium pearl barley requires careful monitoring because starches behave differently depending on the acidity of the surrounding liquid. Tomato juice contains citric and malic acids, which lower the pH of the cooking environment and strengthen the pectin in plant cell walls, thereby slowing down the hydration rate of the starch granules inside the grain. This chemical interaction means the 50 to 60 minute simmer time specified in the method is non-negotiable if you want to avoid a crunchy, undercooked center. Browning the ground beef, celery, and onion over medium heat first renders out excess fat that would otherwise coat the barley grains and physically block water molecules from penetrating the endosperm. When comparing liquids, utilizing fresh tomatoes pureed into juice introduces active enzymes and brighter flavor compounds that degrade during the commercial canning process, though canned tomato juice provides a reliable, standardized acidity level that ensures consistent thickening behavior batch after batch. Maintaining a gentle, covered simmer keeps steam trapped inside the saucepan, ensuring the heat transfers evenly to soften the grains without reducing the liquid volume too quickly.
