Description
Mom’s old-fashioned vegetable beef soup combines hearty ingredients from her classic midwestern kitchen. Simmering beef, seasonal vegetables, and rich broth create a comforting meal you’ll savor with each warming spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized cubes
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
- 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) beef broth or stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a robust pot over medium-high temperature, carefully searing beef stew meat until golden brown on all exterior surfaces.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions and crushed garlic, sautéing until aromatics become translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce root vegetables like carrots, celery, and potatoes, gently stirring and allowing them to soften and release initial flavors for approximately 4 minutes.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, green beans, corn, and peas alongside rich beef broth, complementing with aromatic bay leaves and earthy thyme.
- Elevate heat to trigger a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, covering the pot and allowing ingredients to meld together.
- Maintain low heat for 75-90 minutes, periodically checking meat’s tenderness and vegetable consistency, ensuring a rich, deeply developed flavor profile.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, creating a balanced and harmonious soup.
- Discard bay leaves before ladling the hearty soup into warm serving bowls, presenting a comforting and nutritious meal.
Notes
- Maximize flavor by thoroughly browning the beef, creating a deep caramelized exterior that adds rich complexity to the soup’s taste profile.
- Choose chuck or round steak cuts for tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat that becomes wonderfully soft during the long simmering process.
- Make this soup more diet-friendly by using lean beef and adding extra vegetables like zucchini or spinach for increased nutritional value.
- Freeze leftovers in portion-sized containers for quick, hearty meals during busy weeknights, as the flavors actually improve after sitting for a day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg