Beef & Veggie Soup

One more recipe for 2007 :o). Since the weather has been so cold here, I made this beef and veggie soup before Christmas Eve service. It was warm and ready to go when we got home. This is a very fast recipe...only about 25 minute from start to table.


1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp coconut or olive oil
1 C. diced carrots
1 C. diced potatoes
4 C. water
4 tsp. Better Than Bouillon Beef base (or more to taste)
1-14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 C. green beans sliced
1 C. corn
4 C. cooked barley or pasta (about 2 C. uncooked of either)


Choose barley or pasta.

If barley, start boiling the water and rinse the pearled barley thoroughly. When the water boils add the barley and test often as pearled barley cooks fast. You want the barley to have a "pop" when you bite into it so it does not get soggy in the soup. Rinse the barley in cold water and set aside.

If pasta, boil water, add pasta and cook until it still has a bit of a crunch to it. Rinse in cold water and set aside.

As the barley or pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef and season with pepper if desired (no salt as the bouillon is salty enough). Drain and set aside.

As the beef is browning, dice the carrots, potatoes and green beans. I love keeping the skins on the potatoes for a wonderful looking soup :o), but you may prefer to peel the carrots and potatoes.

In a large pot heat the oil and saute the carrots and potatoes until they start to get soft. If you cook them fully they will be mush in your soup.

Add the water, beef base and diced tomatoes (with the juice). Stir until well mixed.

Add the ground beef.

Add the green beans and corn.

Stir thoroughly and taste. Add more beef base if needed.

Add the barley or pasta.

Cover, reduce the heat to simmer and serve when ready.

Just a note...taste again right before serving as the barley and pasta will reduce the flavor of the beef base as they soak in the broth, so you may have to add a bit more beef base for just the right flavor.

I threw this recipe together one night as I was desperate to get dinner on the table. The best recipes come out of necessity :o). We love eating this with wheat rolls and a green salad. YUM!

Enjoy and stay warm out there.

C.