Barley Vegan Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

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Hearty vegan beef stew with barley, tomatoes, veggies and beefy TVP or soy curls. Enjoy all the classic flavors of your favorite stew without any of the fat and cholesterol, an oil free plant based recipe loaded with protein, flavor and healthy carbs. No beef!

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I’ve made vegan beef stew with jackfruit and potatoes before and I already have dumplings on my mind, but today is all about that nutty barley.

The Barley

I just stocked up the pantry on both pearled and hulled barley grains and they really are interchangeable in this recipe. The pearled variety cooks in approximately 45 minutes while the hulled barley needs a good hour or more since only the outermost hull has been removed. If for some reason barley isn’t your thing you can of course replace it with farro, wheat berries, potatoes or dumplings. As I like to say kids: whatever rocks your tastebuds!

About the TVP or Soy Curls

TVP or “ textured vegetable protein” is a very convenient meat alternative product made from non-GMO soy flour with a meaty texture that absorbs any flavor you have going on in the pot. You could give them a 20 minute soak in hot water if desired or just add straight into the soup. Remember this insanely tasty vegan bolognese ? Alternatively you could use whole food soy curls, portobello or shiitake mushrooms, sietan or jackfruit as I’ve done in this potato jackfruit stew from last fall.

Feel free to play around with the ratio of barley and beefy TVP. If you want a meatier stew I’d suggest adding maybe another half cup of TVP but not much more. This is the kind of recipe you’ll find yourself adjusting through the seasons so don’t get stuck on exact measurement.

Vegetable Stock

Any store bought low sodium veggie stock will work here, of course a homemade version will always taste better. So If you have the luxury of time by all means start with a big pot of stock filled with aromatics and herbs.

The usual suspects in my kitchen are carrots, onion, celery, bay leaves, parsley and celery root. Finish with a generous amount of nutritional yeast after simmering slowly for a couple of hours until the flavors have concentrated. Strain and freeze in large ice cube trays for later individual use or use it in this amazing Vegetable Noodle Soup.

Why You’ll Love this Vegetarian Stew:

  • Meat-free
  • Protein packed
  • One pot wonder
  • Hearty & delicious
  • Cruelty-free
  • WFPB Vegan Recipe.

How to Make Barley Vegan Beef Stew

Barley Vegan Beef Stew Recipe (7)

5 from 2 votes

Barley Vegan Beef Stew Recipe

Hearty vegan beef stew with barley, tomatoes, veggies and beefy TVP or soy curls. Enjoy all the classic flavors of your favorite stew without any of the fat and cholesterol, an oil free plant based recipe loaded with protein, flavor and healthy carbs. No beef!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:1 hour hr

Total Time:1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat a heavy bottom stock pot over medium heat. Add a splash of water or veggie stock and sautee the onion with a pinch of salt until translucent. Add the carrot and celery and cook a few more minutes until they begin to soften. (Add more liquid if needed to create more steam).

  • Add the garlic and give everything a good stir until the garlic is fragrant. Sir in the smoked paprika, chili powder, bay leaves and rosemary.

  • Add the beefy TVP or soy curls, barley, crushed tomatoes, veggie stock and nutritional yeast then bring everything to a simmer. Cook on medium low heat for 45 minutes to one hour until the barley is cooked through and the TVP has reached your desired tenderness.

  • Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and the heat level with more chili powder or chili flakes. Stir in the fresh parsley and serve hot with crusty bread. (If you want to indulge with a drizzle of olive oil feel free to do so at this point, omit for Whole Food Plant Based and Plantricious diets).

Video

Notes

  1. To make it 100% Plantricious & WFPB compliant make sure to use soy curls instead of TVP.
  2. If the stew turns out too thick for your liking just add more veggie stock to thin it out as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 856mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 6393IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 8mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: plant based, vegan stew, wfpb

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 345kcal

Author: Florentina

:

Barley Vegan Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can vegans eat barley? ›

Barley is vegan. A vegan dietitian reviewed this note on barley for Fig.

Does pearl barley thicken stews? ›

Pearl barley has a neutral-cereal taste. Its most distinctive feature is its texture. The grains also thicken soups and stews, imparting a creaminess which means that the liquid coats the back of a spoon.

Why does my beef barley soup have no flavor? ›

9 Answers
  • If you use self-made beef stock, try boiling a bit longer, so that the flavour of the beef is a bit more concentrated.
  • Boil your soup a bit longer.
  • Use more beef stock and/or cubed beef.
  • I don't know how much herbs you put in. Maybe a bit more pepper or rosemary can make a difference.
Mar 27, 2011

Can you replace barley with rice? ›

Dried, uncooked barley can also be stored in the freezer for up to 1 year. Once cooked, barley can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Uses: Barley can replace rice in stir fries, curries, and risottos. It is a common ingredient in soups and can also be added to salads and pilafs.

What to avoid when taking barley? ›

Therefore, if you have IBS or a sensitive digestive tract, you may want to avoid barley. Lastly, since barley has a strong effect on blood sugar levels, you may want to exercise caution while eating it if you have diabetes and are taking any blood-sugar-lowering medications or insulin ( 29 ).

Why do vegans not eat wheat? ›

So, Can Vegans Eat Wheat? Based on the fact that wheat is an edible plant, a fact known by humans for millennia, there is no doubting the fact that wheat is vegan friendly and is fine for vegans to consume. The only complication that arises is when the vegan in question is unable to consume gluten.

What does barley do to your body? ›

As a whole grain, barley provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients may enhance heart health, help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and more. Consuming a diet rich in whole grains may help reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other chronic health concerns.

Does barley need to be cooked before adding to soup? ›

Do you cook barley before adding it to soup? Your beef barley soup will simmer long enough to cook the barley. There is no need for the additional step of cooking the barley first.

Do I need to soak pearl barley before cooking? ›

Do you have to soak barley before cooking? Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).

How do you thicken beef barley soup? ›

Cover the pot and allow the beef to cook in the broth for 20 minutes. Add the vegetables, barley, Worcestershire, soy, garlic, thyme, and parsley. Cover and cook for 40 minutes. If the end results are not a thick as you'd like (I like it thicker) combine the water and cornstarch and add it to the soup.

What is a substitute for barley in beef stew? ›

  1. Quinoa. Quinoa is a great substitute for barley because also has a nutty and earthy flavor like barley. ...
  2. Farro. Farro is one of the best substitutes for barley. ...
  3. Brown Rice. Brown rice has a similar chewy texture and nutty flavor like barley. ...
  4. Bulgur. ...
  5. Pearl Couscous. ...
  6. Sorghum. ...
  7. Buckwheat. ...
  8. Millet.
Apr 20, 2023

What if I put too much barley in my soup? ›

As barley is a starch the best you can do is dilute it, or thin it out a bit. You may need to add a fair bit of broth and more of your vegetal ingredients. Possibly to the point of doubling your recipe. It will depend on when you find the taste and texture to have gotten back to acceptable levels.

Which is healthier quinoa or barley? ›

Nutritional Value

Barley is a good source of iron, niacin, and vitamin B6, and supplies an adequate source of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. It also easily wins out in fiber content, providing both soluble and insoluble fiber, with one serving providing 8 grams, compared to quinoa's 3.

Can I use orzo instead of barley? ›

Orzo is barley. You have to cook it slightly differently from Arborio rice … one of them needs a bit more cooking and a bit more liquid than the other (but I can't remember which way round it is). Orzotto is delicious - if you like barley, that is.

Which is healthier barley or rice? ›

If you're on a gluten-free diet, brown rice is the clear winner, because barley contains gluten. Brown rice also has over five times more folate and vitamin E. However, barley has twice the calcium and fibre and about 30 per cent fewer calories. The two are equivalent in protein and fat content.

What grains can a vegan eat? ›

Discover a variety of plant-based whole grain recipes, where wholesome grains like brown rice, barley, millet, oats, quinoa, and wheat berries are at the heart of each nutritious dish.

Is barley considered plant-based? ›

According to the Mayo clinic, the key to a healthy plant-based diet is variety. Fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, whole wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, corn, millet and quinoa are all on the menu, even in an oil-free vegan diet.

Is barley part of a plant based diet? ›

Start with oatmeal, quinoa, buckwheat, or barley. Then add some nuts or seeds along with fresh fruit. Go for greens. Try a variety of green leafy vegetables such as kale, collards, Swiss chard, spinach, and other greens each day.

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