Lentil Barley Stew

Submitted by MsBindy

"My husband's favorite. The cinnamon gives this stew a different twist. It will thicken as it sits, so I make it a little soupy to begin with and serve with some crusty bread to soak up the juices."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups carrots, diced or sliced
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 28 ounces plum tomatoes, chopped with their juices
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick (about 3 inches long)
• 1⁄2 cup pearl barley, rinsed
• 1⁄2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
• salt and pepper, to taste

directions

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-low heat.
2. Add the onions and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
4. Add the cumin and cook for 1 more minute.
5. Add the lentils, broth, tomatoes with juices, brown sugar and cinnamon stick.
6. Bring to a boil, reduce heat slightly and cook for 5 minutes, partially covered.
7. Add the barley, cover partially, and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Stir in the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Reviews

[HesterX]

Wow! Very good stew. I changed it bit, from vegetarian to a meat stew. Browned the beef and used beef stock instead, but as is this would still be a 5 star rating. Like another reviewer here, I did have to simmer this closer to 2 hours to soften the lentils. Love the cumin/brown sugar/cinnamon twist. I make many different lentil soups, but this is now one of our top 3. :)

 

[mikala]

Just made this in the pressure cooker, took only 15 minutes to cook! Tried a mouthful and it was too hot, but gooooooood. Waiting impatiently for this to cool, and might top it with some grated cheese. Everything tastes better with cheese!

 

[Lavagal]

My husband really enjoyed this, especially because of the cinnamon! Mahalo!

 

[chef 305256]

This was very tasty indeed, but it took way longer than 45 min. for the lentils to cook properly (more like 1 hr. 15 min) and I had to keep on adding broth to keep it from burning. I left out the cinnamon and parsley.

 

[becki in Israel]

I decided to try this in the slowcooker,it came out very tasty-I prepared steps 1-4 and then transfered it all+the rest of ingredients to the "cooker" in the evening&stuck in fridge,started to cook on low the next morning as I left for work and in the evening it ready.Husband & I liked it, kids didn't :( Thanks