Description
Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup delivers pure comfort in a bowl, blending robust beef and garden-fresh vegetables into a nourishing meal. Simmering with rich flavors and wholesome ingredients, you’ll savor each spoonful of this classic, soul-warming dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup frozen green beans
- 1 cup frozen corn (or peas)
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups beef broth (low sodium if preferred)
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a robust beef foundation by heating olive oil in a large pot over medium-high temperature. Season beef generously with salt and pepper, then carefully place into the hot surface. Allow meat to develop a rich caramelized crust, rotating pieces to ensure even browning for approximately 5-7 minutes. Transfer seared beef to a temporary plate.
- Utilize the same pot’s flavorful remnants to sauté aromatic vegetables. Introduce chopped onions, carrots, and celery, stirring frequently until vegetables soften and release their natural sweetness. Add minced garlic and quickly incorporate, allowing its pungent essence to permeate the mixture.
- Reunite the seared beef with the vegetable medley. Pour in diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, and herbaceous elements like thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Elevate heat to trigger a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow ingredients to meld and tenderize for approximately 35-40 minutes.
- Incorporate hearty root vegetables and vibrant green components. Gently fold in cubed potatoes, tender green beans, and sweet corn kernels. Continue simmering uncovered, permitting vegetables to reach perfect tenderness while creating a harmonious flavor profile.
- Finalize the culinary creation by extracting the bay leaf and conducting a thorough taste assessment. Calibrate seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the robust soup into warm bowls, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley for a burst of color and brightness. Complement with crusty artisan bread or crisp crackers for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by choosing tough cuts like chuck roast or bottom round, which become incredibly soft during long, slow cooking.
- Select fresh vegetables with vibrant colors to boost nutritional value and create a more visually appealing soup.
- Elevate flavor complexity by deglazing the pot with a splash of red wine after searing beef, capturing delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom.
- Make soup diet-friendly by substituting beef with lean ground turkey or plant-based protein for lower-fat versions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg