Description
Hearty hamburger soup brings comfort to chilly evenings with its rich, savory blend of ground beef, vegetables, and robust seasonings. Warm, filling bowls promise satisfaction as you savor each spoonful of this classic, soul-warming dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, minced
- 4 carrots, minced
- 3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
Seasonings and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup barley
- 3 (10 ounces) cans beef broth
- 1 (28 ounces) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups water
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can condensed tomato soup
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a spacious cooking vessel over medium-high temperature and thoroughly brown the ground beef, ensuring complete rendering of fat.
- Transfer the cooked meat to a separate container, reserving the flavorful drippings in the pot.
- Gently sauté the aromatic mixture of onions, carrots, and celery until they soften and release their natural sweetness.
- Reintroduce the browned beef into the vegetable medley, creating a robust foundation for the soup.
- Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes, water, and tomato soup, stirring to integrate all components smoothly.
- Enhance the liquid with a fragrant blend of bay leaf, parsley, minced garlic, thyme, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Elevate the temperature until the mixture reaches a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Allow the soup to slowly develop its complex flavors, letting the ingredients meld together for approximately one hour.
- Carefully remove the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones in the final dish.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile before ladling into serving bowls.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier soup base without compromising flavor.
- Add diced potatoes for extra heartiness and to make the soup more filling for hungry families.
- Consider replacing beef with ground turkey for a lower-calorie alternative that still provides protein-rich nutrition.
- Freeze leftover soup in individual portions for quick weeknight meals, ensuring the barley doesn’t become mushy during reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg