French Onion Soup with Beef and Barley

Chock-full of fiber-rich barley, this French onion soup is a tasty variation on the classic. You can omit the sherry or replace it with white wine if you wish.

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1  cup  boiling water
• 1/2  ounce  dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1  tablespoon  dark sesame oil, divided
• 2  medium onions, each cut into 8 wedges (about 4 cups)
• 1/2  cup  chopped shallots or onion
• 2  teaspoons  chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 3  cups  sliced button mushrooms
• 1  teaspoon  brown sugar
• 1  (12-ounce) lean boneless sirloin steak, cut into 2-inch strips
• 4  cups  water
• 2/3  cup  uncooked pearl barley
• 1/4  cup  dry sherry
• 3  tablespoons  low-sodium soy sauce
• 1  (10 1/2-ounce) can beef consommé
• 12  (1/4-inch-thick) slices diagonally cut French bread baguette
• 3/4  cup  (3 ounces) shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Preparation

Combine boiling water and shiitakes in a bowl; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Drain the shiitakes in a colander over a bowl, reserving liquid. Slice shiitakes, discarding stems.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, shallots, ginger, and garlic; sauté 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the shiitakes, button mushrooms, sugar, and beef. Sauté 10 minutes, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add reserved mushroom liquid, 4 cups water, and the next 4 ingredients (water through consommé); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until barley is tender. Stir in 1 teaspoon sesame oil.

Preheat broiler.

Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 6 ovenproof soup bowls; top each serving with 2 bread slices and 2 tablespoons cheese. Broil 3 inches from heat 1 minute or until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Note: This soup will freeze well for up to two months. Pour into an airtight container, leaving enough room for expansion (usually an inch or two at the top). To reheat, thaw completely in the refrigerator; then place contents in a saucepan over low heat, adding some liquid if necessary.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

351 (27% from fat)

Fat:

10.7g (sat 4.3g,mono 3.8g,poly 1.7g)

Protein:

24.6g

Carbohydrate:

40g

Fiber:

6.2g

Cholesterol:

50mg

Iron:

3.7mg

Sodium:

676mg

Calcium:

196mg