Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

elaine’s old fashioned vegetable beef soup

★★★★★ 1
a recipe by
Elaine Douglas
Vancouver, BC

This is a very versatile soup. Make it with the vegetables and grains that you already have on hand. This is a good way to get your family to eat vegetables. You can even add a handful of high protein dried lentils. For a bit more spice you could substitute a can of Rotel for some of the tomatoes. Teenage boys with hollow legs really like this soup as a meal with a couple of loaves of home made bread. The soup freezes very well so it is worthwhile to make a big batch. Note: amounts in brackets are to make half the recipe.

★★★★★ 1
serves 12 plus
prep time 20 Min
cook time 35 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For elaine’s old fashioned vegetable beef soup

  • 1 (1/2) lb
    ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 (1/2) c
    chopped onion
  • 1 (1/2) tsp
    chopped garlic, or to taste
  • 1 (1/2) c
    raw potato diced (or ¼ c. barley, softened in 1 c. water for 8 hours) (or ¼ c. rice, millet, rye or faroe)
  • 1 (1/2) c
    sliced carrot
  • 1 (1/2) c
    sliced celery
  • 1/2 (1/4) lb
    green beans cut diagonally or 2 c. frozen cut beans
  • 1 (14 oz) can
    28 oz diced tomatoes or 2 lbs. fresh or frozen tomatoes, diced
  • 1 (1/2) c
    canned drained beans kidney, black, or black eyed peas - optional
  • 9 (4 1/2) c
    beef bouillon or stock or a combination of stock and water.
  • 2 (1) tsp
    salt
  • 1/4 (1/8) tsp
    thyme, dried
  • 1/4 (1/8) tsp
    basil, dried
  • 1 (1/2)
    bay leaf
  • 1/4 (1/8) tsp
    ground pepper
  • 5 (3) dash
    red pepper sauce (optional)
  • 1 (1/2) can
    7 oz whole kernel corn, undrained (or ½ cup of frozen corn)
  • 1 (1/2) c
    frozen peas

How To Make elaine’s old fashioned vegetable beef soup

  • 1
    Brown beef and onion in large saucepan until meat is slightly browned. Drain off excess fat (if you use very lean beef there will be no excess fat).
  • 2
    Add remaining ingredients except corn and peas. Simmer 30 minutes or until raw vegetables are tender.
  • 3
    Add corn and peas, continue heating for 5 minutes. If you use frozen vegetables add another cup of water.
  • 4
    Remove and discard bay leaves. Taste for seasoning. Add a bit more salt if necessary.
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