French Onion Soup With Beef And Barley

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 ounce dried shiitake mushroom
• 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, divided
• 2 medium onions, each cut into 8 wedges (about 4 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped shallots or 1/2 cup onion
• 2 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups sliced button mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 12 ounces boneless sirloin steaks, 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 consomme
• 12 slices French baguettes
• 3/4 cup shredded gruyere or 3/4 cup swiss cheese

1. 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.
2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, shallots, ginger, and garlic; saute 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Add the shiitakes, button mushrooms, sugar, and beef.
4. Saute 10 minutes, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add reserved mushroom liquid, 4 cups water, and the next 4 ingredients (water through consomme); bring to a boil.
5. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until barley is tender. Stir in 1 teaspoon sesame oil.
6. Preheat broiler.
7. Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 6 ovenproof soup bowls; top each serving with 2 bread slices and 2 tablespoons cheese.
8. Broil 3 inches from heat 1 minute or until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

boiling water, shiitake mushroom, sesame oil, onions, shallots, fresh ginger, garlic, button mushrooms, brown sugar, water, pearl barley, sherry, soy sauce, beef consomme, baguettes, shredded gruyere

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/french-onion-soup-with-beef-and-barley-244691 (may not work)