Description
Hearty mom’s old-fashioned vegetable beef soup blends tender meat with garden-fresh vegetables in a rich, savory broth. Comforting generations of families, this classic recipe brings warmth and nourishment you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef stew meat, cubed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Vegetables:
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 2 large carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces / 411 grams)
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear the beef chunks in heated olive oil over medium heat until a rich, golden-brown crust develops on all surfaces.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions, minced garlic, and diced celery into the pot, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour beef broth into the pot, then add sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, diced tomatoes, and a single bay leaf. Elevate heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Reduce temperature to low, cover the pot, and allow the soup to gently simmer for approximately 90 minutes, ensuring the beef becomes exceptionally tender and soft.
- Introduce fresh green beans and sweet corn kernels into the simmering liquid, continuing to cook for an additional 25 minutes until vegetables reach desired tenderness.
- Carefully taste the soup, adjusting seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Extract and discard the bay leaf before ladling the hearty soup into warm serving bowls, ensuring each portion contains a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
Notes
- Tenderize tough cuts of beef by cooking low and slow, allowing collagen to break down and create melt-in-your-mouth meat texture.
- Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution throughout the soup.
- Use fresh or frozen vegetables interchangeably, but frozen corn and green beans work especially well for maintaining texture and convenience.
- Consider adding a splash of red wine or Worcestershire sauce during browning to enhance the beef’s rich, deep flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 207 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg