Servings: 6

1 1/2 lb. boneless chuck roast, cut into small cubes 1 ½ lb. boneless chuck roast, cut into small cubes
3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp olive oil
4 medium carrots, peeled and diced 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1 large onion, peeled and diced 1 large onion, peeled and diced
3 garlic cloves (minced) 3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 cup pearl barley (or hulled barley) 1 cup pearl barley (or hulled barley)
2 tbsp tomato paste 2 tbsp tomato paste
8 cups beef or chicken broth 8 cups beef or chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste salt and pepper to taste

Heat up a large pot on high heat. Add the olive oil and beef. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes until the liquids evaporate and the beef starts to brown.
Reduce heat to medium and add onion, carrots, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the tomato paste, thyme, salt, and pepper and mix everything well. Add the barley and beef (or chicken) broth. Reduce the heat to medium low, and cook until the beef is very tender, for about 1 ½ hours.
Note: add extra broth if you’d like to thin out the soup a bit more.