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A close-up of a flavorful Asian beef soup garnished with fresh herbs in a decorative bowl.
StovetopComplexity

Beef & Barley Soup

This Beef & Barley Soup provides 7g protein and 180 calories per serving — a nutrient-dense broth-based option for lighter training days. Makes 8 servings with quick stovetop prep, fitting easily into meal plans that require variety without high calorie density. Use it as a low-calorie starter to round out bigger protein targets from your main dishes.

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Ingredients

8 servings
  • Beef Chuck Roast
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt, Plus More For Serving
  • Olive oil(45g)

    Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.

  • Yellow Onion
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Tomato Paste(30g)
  • Beef bouillon cube(10g)
  • Thyme, Fresh(10g)
  • Low Sodium Beef Broth(1920g)
  • Soy Sauce, Low Sodium(15g)
  • Barley, Pearl, Dry(240g)
  • Freshly Cracked Black Pepper, To Taste
  • Parsley, Fresh

Instructions

  1. 1Season the beef all over with the salt. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil just begins to smoke, working in batches, add the meat and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the meat to a plate.
  2. 2Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 5 minutes. If the vegetables are sticking to the bottom of the pot, add a bit of water and scrape up the browned bits. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Stir in the tomato paste and bouillon to combine.
  3. 3Return the meat to the pot along with any collected juices. Add the thyme leaves, beef stock and soy sauce. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 60 minutes.
  4. 4Stir in the barley and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beef and barley are tender, about 30 more minutes. Taste and season with more salt if desired.
  5. 5Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with cracked black pepper and parsley if desired.

Nutrition — Per Serving

180

calories

7g

protein

6g

fat

Carbohydrates
25g
Saturated fat
0.9g
Sodium
685 mg
Dietary fiber
5.0g

8 servings per batch · ~284g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein does Beef & Barley Soup have per serving?

Each serving contains 7g of protein and 180 calories with 6g fat and 25g carbs. This is a light soup better suited as a side or starter than a primary protein course.

How long does Beef & Barley Soup take to prep?

This quick prep soup yields 8 servings per batch, making it extremely efficient for weekly meal prep. You get multiple servings from one stovetop session.

Is Beef & Barley Soup good for fat loss?

At 180 calories per serving, this soup is calorie-efficient for fat loss phases and can serve as a high-volume, low-calorie addition to your meal plan. However, you'll need to pair it with a separate protein source to hit daily protein targets.

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