This Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup is comfort in a bowl – tender chunks of slow-cooked beef, sweet carrots, creamy potatoes, and peas all swimming in a rich, herb-infused broth. The secret touch of red wine or stout elevates the flavor, making every spoonful layered and satisfying. It’s like the warmth of a Sunday roast, but in a cozy soup you can enjoy any day of the week. Perfect for cold nights, make-ahead lunches, or when you need a meal that hugs you back, this recipe is a family favorite that only gets better as the flavors meld overnight. Serve it with fresh crusty bread or cheesy garlic toast for the ultimate dunking experience.
Full recipe:
Ingredients:
-
1.5 tbsp olive oil, divided
-
500g (1 lb) stewing beef, cut into 2/3″ cubes
-
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
-
1 onion, chopped
-
3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tbsp)
-
2 celery stalks, sliced into 1/3″ pieces
-
3 carrots, sliced into 1/5″ pieces (halve large ones)
-
4 tbsp all-purpose flour
-
2 1/2 cups (625ml) low-sodium beef broth
-
1 1/2 cups (375ml) dry red wine, Guinness, or stout (or sub with 400g crushed tomatoes + 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce)
-
1.5 cups (375ml) water
-
2 tbsp tomato paste
-
2 bay leaves
-
1 tsp dried thyme
-
1 cup frozen peas
-
2 medium potatoes, cubed into 2/3″ pieces
-
Optional: 1 tbsp butter + 200g mushrooms, quartered or halved
-
Fresh parsley for garnish
Directions:
-
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-based pot over high heat.
-
Pat beef dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper. Brown in 2–3 batches, adding more oil if needed. Remove beef to a bowl.
-
If the pot is dry, add a touch more oil. Sauté onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots, cooking for another 2 minutes until onions are translucent.
-
Stir in flour, then slowly pour in beef broth while stirring constantly.
-
Add wine (or substitute), water, tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, and the browned beef. Stir well.
-
Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 1 hour 15 minutes until beef is tender.
-
Add potatoes and peas, simmer uncovered for 20 minutes more.
-
If making buttery mushrooms, sauté mushrooms in butter until browned, season, and stir into soup during the last 5 minutes.
-
Season soup with salt and plenty of black pepper. Garnish with parsley and serve hot with crusty bread.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 1 hour 35 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Kcal: 419 kcal | Servings: 5 servings
Background of the Recipe
Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup is a classic comfort dish that blends tender, slow-cooked beef with fresh vegetables in a flavorful, savory broth. It’s one of those recipes that evokes nostalgia and brings families together around the dinner table. This soup has been passed down for generations, with each family putting their own spin on it. The combination of melt-in-your-mouth beef and nutrient-packed vegetables in a rich broth is simple, yet incredibly satisfying.
The beauty of this soup lies in its ability to provide a well-balanced meal all in one bowl. It’s hearty, warming, and packed with vitamins and protein, making it an ideal choice for a cold winter night or a cozy family dinner. The simplicity of the ingredients, the ease of preparation, and the fact that it tastes even better the next day only add to its appeal.
Why This Recipe is the Best
This recipe stands out for several reasons. First, it uses affordable cuts of beef, such as stewing beef, which are perfect for slow cooking. This allows you to enjoy tender beef without breaking the bank. The key to the perfect Vegetable Beef Soup lies in the slow simmering process, where the beef becomes incredibly tender and infused with the rich flavors of the broth.
What truly makes this recipe stand out, however, is the use of a secret ingredient—red wine (or beer/stout). Adding wine not only deepens the flavor of the broth but also adds complexity, giving the soup a comforting depth that many other recipes lack. The alcohol cooks off during the simmering process, leaving behind a rich, full-bodied flavor that enhances the soup’s taste.
Another standout feature of this recipe is its versatility. The beauty of Vegetable Beef Soup is that you can easily customize it to suit your preferences. Add more vegetables, experiment with different herbs, or switch up the type of meat—there’s room for creativity. Whether you prefer a thicker or thinner broth, this soup can be adjusted to your liking.
Health Benefits of Vegetable Beef Soup
This soup isn’t just delicious; it’s also packed with nutrients. The stewing beef provides a healthy dose of protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. It’s also rich in iron, which is crucial for oxygen transportation in the blood and can help prevent anemia.
The vegetables—such as carrots, celery, and peas—are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Carrots, for instance, are rich in beta-carotene, which is essential for eye health, while celery provides a good amount of fiber and antioxidants. Potatoes, a staple in this recipe, are a great source of complex carbohydrates, offering sustained energy without a sugar crash.
The addition of garlic and onions not only adds flavor but also comes with various health benefits. Garlic is known for its ability to boost the immune system and may help reduce the risk of heart disease, while onions are a great source of antioxidants that support overall health.
The Importance of the Broth
The broth in this Vegetable Beef Soup is truly what elevates it from a simple soup to a soul-satisfying meal. By using a combination of beef broth, red wine (or stout), and water, you create a deep, flavorful base that is savory and slightly thickened, much like a thin gravy. This makes the soup feel more luxurious and satisfying, as it coats the vegetables and beef perfectly.
The thickened broth also helps the flavors meld together, resulting in a comforting bowl of soup that is full of richness and depth. Unlike other soups that can feel watery and bland, this one delivers a robust taste in every spoonful. The addition of flour helps thicken the broth just enough to give it a velvety texture without making it too heavy.
Slow Cooking for the Best Flavor
Slow cooking is key to achieving fall-apart beef. The long simmer time allows the beef to become incredibly tender, absorbing all the flavors from the broth and vegetables. This slow-cooked technique helps break down the tougher fibers in the meat, making it incredibly easy to shred or cut with a fork. This tender texture is one of the things that makes this soup so comforting—each bite of beef is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Slow cooking also allows the flavors to develop and intensify over time. The ingredients don’t just cook together; they meld into a perfect balance of savory, herb-infused goodness. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s not time-consuming in the traditional sense. You can let it simmer on the stove while you go about your day, and the result is a flavorful, hearty meal that’s ready when you are.
A Versatile and Customizable Dish
One of the best things about this Vegetable Beef Soup is how adaptable it is. While the core recipe includes classic ingredients like beef, potatoes, and vegetables, you can easily add your own twist. For instance, if you prefer a spicier soup, you can add a dash of cayenne pepper or a chopped jalapeño for some heat. If you want to make the soup even heartier, you can add more potatoes, or even substitute them for sweet potatoes for a different flavor profile.
You can also get creative with the vegetables. While this recipe calls for carrots, celery, and peas, you can add green beans, parsnips, or zucchini, depending on what you have on hand or your personal preferences. The broth’s flavor can also be modified by swapping out the red wine for a different type of alcohol, or using a non-alcoholic option like Worcestershire sauce and tomatoes, as suggested in the recipe.
How to Serve Vegetable Beef Soup
This soup is a complete meal in a bowl, but if you want to serve it with something on the side, it pairs beautifully with crusty bread or cheesy garlic bread. The bread can be used to soak up the savory broth, making every bite even more satisfying. You could also serve the soup with a side salad to add a bit of freshness and crunch to balance out the richness of the soup.
For those who enjoy a bit of extra indulgence, a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of grated cheese can add even more depth to the soup. You could even drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil on top for an added layer of flavor.
Storing and Freezing Your Soup
Like many soups, this Vegetable Beef Soup tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had time to meld together. It’s the perfect make-ahead meal, and it stores well in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Simply reheat it on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s hot and ready to serve.
This soup also freezes wonderfully, making it an excellent option for meal prep. To freeze, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.
Conclusion
This Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup is the ultimate comfort food that combines rich, tender beef with flavorful vegetables in a savory, thickened broth. It’s a nutritious, satisfying meal that is perfect for feeding a crowd or making ahead for the week. The addition of red wine or stout adds an extra layer of depth and complexity, making the broth truly stand out. Whether served on a chilly evening or as a hearty lunch, this soup is sure to become a family favorite. The ability to customize the recipe to suit your taste makes it a versatile dish that can be enjoyed year-round, and its freezer-friendly nature ensures that you always have a delicious meal on hand.