Beef Ragout And Barley

I bet barley is not a grain that you use a lot in your cooking. Me neither, although I come from a country where we use it quite a bit, especially in soups and stews. I am not sure why I have not used it more before, it is a nutritious alternative to potatoes or rice. You can even make a risotto with it! Add some to your soups and you will have a filling meal in an instant.
Barley is rich in fiber, selenium, magnesium and it can help you lower cholesterol. If you happen to be cooking a stew, like myself today, barley will go beautifully with it.
Did you know it is used in the production of beer and whiskey? Also, Canada is in the top 10 countries with the highest production of barley, I believe no 5, Poland being no 10.
Stock up on your barley, appreciate it and eat up. Mix it up and make your dinners different once in a while.

Beef Ragout

450g stewing beef in chunks
1 onion, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, chopped

5 dried mushrooms- good quality
2 cloves garlic, minced
few springs of fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
2 cups beef stock
2/3 cup red wine plus more for sipping while cooking
half a large can of chopped tomatoes

400g pearl barley,

In a skillet with some oil brown the beef with some salt and pepper on high heat, transfer to slow cooker. Add the onion and carrots together with the garlic, thyme, bay leaves to the pan and cook for a few minutes. Stir in stock, wine and tomatoes and transfer everything to the slow cooker. Add the dried mushrooms and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste as well as a tablespoon of brown sugar to counter balance the acidity of the tomatoes (my secret hence it is not shown in the body of the recipe) . Simmer for 5 hours until the meat is soft and almost falling apart. Add the fresh mushrooms, (fried in butter first) at the end, just before serving.
Cook the barley according to the manufacturer's instructions (cooking water must be salty)
Serve immediately with some greens. I chose polish beets, shredded carrots with lemon and olive oil as well as cabbage braised with marjoram and apples.

ENJOY AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS MEAL! :)