Hearty and comforting, this soup, which we last featured in 2022, is full of classic flavors that hit the spot as the weather cools. Smarts: This soup requires 60 minutes of hands-off simmer time to cook the pearl barley. If you are short on time, make the soup ahead (it reheats well), look for quick-cooking barley (Trader Joe’s sells one that cooks in 10 minutes), or use canned white beans as a substitute.
Heat a Dutch oven with cooking oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and saute until beef is brown on the outside, 7 to 8 minutes (don’t worry if it’s not cooked through). Set beef aside and return pan to heat.
Add butter and then carrots, celery, onions, and barley (if using beans as a sub for barley or using quick cooking barley, wait to add these) to melted butter. Saute until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and flour and cook for 1 minute more.
Pour stock and bay leaves over vegetables and add beef back to pan. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until barley and beef are both tender, ~60 minutes. (If using quick cooking barley, add it 10 minutes before the beef is finished.)
Stir lemon juice into soup (if using white beans as a barley sub, drain and rinse and then add to soup). Season with some salt and pepper.
Divide soup between bowls. Enjoy with yogurt on top and baguette on the side.