Hearty Beef and Vegetable Minestrone
A delicious and comforting chunky minestrone soup packed with beef and vegetables, perfect for a cozy meal on a chilly day.
Ingredients
| 3 | (I use pre-cooked) |
|---|---|
| 1⁄2 | lb lean ground beef |
| 2 | carrots, finely sliced |
| 2 | cloves garlic, minced or crushed |
| 1 | large onion, finely chopped |
| 1 | stalk celery, finely chopped |
| 2 | bay leaves |
| 1 | teaspoon dry basil |
| 1⁄2 | teaspoon dried Italian seasoning |
| 1 | (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes |
| 1 | (900 ml) box beef broth (I use low sodium kind) |
| 1⁄4 | cup uncooked barley |
| 1⁄2 | cup egg noodles (I use extra fine) |
| 1 | salt, to taste |
Instructions
| 1. | Begin by cooking the bacon until it is crisp. If preferred, you can use pre-cooked bacon to save time. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Once the bacon is cooked, cut it into small pieces and place it in a large stock pot. |
| 3. | In a frying pan, cook the lean ground beef until browned. Drain any excess liquid and then transfer the ground beef to the pot with the bacon. |
| 4. | In the same frying pan, add the finely sliced carrots, minced garlic, chopped onions, and chopped celery. Cook for 5-10 minutes until softened, then add this mixture to the pot. |
| 5. | To the pot, add bay leaves, dried basil, dried Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, and beef broth. |
| 6. | Bring the pot to a boil, cover it, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. |
| 7. | After simmering, add the uncooked barley and egg noodles. Continue simmering for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until the barley is soft. |
| 8. | If the soup thickens more than desired, adjust the consistency by adding more beef broth. If unavailable, water can be used, though it may slightly dilute the flavor. |
| 9. | Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning to your preference. Consider adding salt, hot pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, Italian blend seasoning, or any other desired seasonings. |
Nutrients
The following values are based on a single serving of this recipe.
| Calories | 191.9 kcal |
| Protein | 13.2 g |
| Fat | 6.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21.4 g |
| Fiber | 4.4 g |
| Sugar | 7.2 g |
Published on Jul 18, 2024 by Luminița