Filipino Beef and Barley Soup- Fast Version of Beef Nilaga

 

Soup weather is among us and I love Beef Barley soup, I figure I could add in the all the flavours of a Filipino Beef Nilaga to give this Beef Barley a filipino twist. Here is the link to the original filipino Beef Nilaga recipe >> Beef Nilaga

Ingredients 

1 cup lean ground beef

1/2 cup cooked barley 

1/2 small onion finely diced

handful of green beans diced

1 large russet potato diced

1/2 cup kernel corn

1.5 cups shredded cabbage

4.5 cups beef broth or 4.5 cups water + 2 bouillon cubes

2 tbsp oil

salt & pepper to taste

1. Prep all vegetables that need to be diced, green beans, potatoes. Try to cut them about the same size. Shred the cabbage into thin strips to ensure it cooks fast and evenly. I used frozen corn but canned or fresh will work. Diced the onion finely to avoid large chunks in the soup. Set aside.

2. In a large soup pot or dutch oven, add about 2 tbsp oil, heat on medium. 

3. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and remove from pot. 

4. In the same pot, add the finely diced onions and saute for 2 mins. 

5. Add the green beans and saute another 2-3 mins.

6. Add the diced potatoes saute 2 mins and season with salt & pepper. 

7. Add 4.5 cups of water or 4.5 cups of beef broth. If using water add 2 bouillon cubes. 

8. Bring to a boil and cover for about 5 mins or until the potatoes are tender. 

9. Bring to a low simmer and add the corn, cabbage and barley. Simmer another 2-3 mins until cabbage is tender. 

** Cook a little less than 1/4 cup of uncooked barely, add 3x water, bring to a boil then reduced to simmer. Cover lid and cook for 20mins or until barely absorbed liquid.

10. Add the ground beef. Taste and adjust seasoning. 

11. Serve in a soup bowl and garnish with parsley.