Have you ever loved a family soup recipe so much that you sometimes dream of eating it and wake up craving it? Yep, me too. 'Momma' vegetable beef soup is as just as much a beloved tradition in my life as it is a hearty, hit-the-right-spot meal.
I call it 'Momma' soup for all of the right reasons:
- My own mom makes it all the time.
- Everyone else's mom I know also makes it all the time.
- Everyone I know who grows up eating this soup creates their own signature version that ends up becoming someone else's 'Momma' soup.
- Each bowl is an internal hug that warms your bones and settles your soul.
- It keeps really well in the fridge or freezer, so it's a great way to get your weekly veggie intake by only cooking one time. Yay!!
- And, I just really, really, really like to say 'Momma' soup...yep.
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The Making of 'Momma' Vegetable Beef Soup
I like to make a half-day event out of preparing this classic vegetable soup. There are only about 20 minutes of actual hands-on prep time. The rest of the time, I get to soak up the amazing smells floating up out of the pot. It's nostalgic, and it's nutritious, and its spirit-soothing. And I honestly can't ever get enough of it...
You start the soup by pouring 2 pounds of chopped beef steak or roast, one large chopped onion, and dried parsley into a 7-quart cast iron Dutch oven.
Then, cover the mixture with 5 quarts of filtered water. Let cook over medium-high heat for 2 hours, or until the beef cubes are super-tender. (If you want, brown the beef first. I used to, but I found that it didn't change the taste or texture of the beef. So, I now just skip the extra step.)
When the broth and beef cubes are ready, add ½ head of cabbage and your choice of about 4 cups of chopped fresh or frozen veggies. I usually use potatoes, corn, turnips, green beans, and carrots in my 'Momma' vegetable beef soup.
Then, stir in two 15-ounce cans of GF tomato sauce. If you want to heat things up a bit, add one 10-ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chiles to really help your vegetable beef soup stand out from everybody else's. Finally, add some or all of the other quart of filtered water, if necessary, to bring the liquid level to almost the top of the Dutch oven. Add SP&C to taste throughout the cooking process, if desired.
Cook for another 60 to 90 minutes over medium-high heat, or until all of the vegetables are tender and the cabbage is wilted.
Enjoy a bowl while gazing at a thinker frog, optional...
'Momma' Vegetable Beef Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef steak or roast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 5 to 6 quarts filtered water
- ½ head cabbage shredded or chopped
- 1 large russet potato chopped
- 1 large turnip peeled and chopped
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- ½ green bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 2 cups fresh or frozen corn green beans, carrots or other mixed vegetables
- 2 15- ounce cans GF tomato sauce
- 1 10- ounce Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
- SP&C to taste
Instructions
- Bring cubed beef steak or roast, chopped onion, parsley flakes and 5 quarts filtered water to a boil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat.
- Boil for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until beef is super-tender.
- Add the rest of the vegetables, the tomato sauce, and the Rotel tomatoes to the pot. Add additional quart of water, if necessary, to fill the pot. Add SP&C to taste, as necessary.
- Continue to boil for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the cabbage is wilted and all of the veggies are tender.
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by a third-party, online computer-generated nutrition calculator, not a registered dietitian or certified nutritionist. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods and individual portion sizes, along with other factors.
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Robyn says
I decided to make this soup last weekend. Made me look like a champ. It was sooo easy. My house smelled delicious. My picky eaters (kiddos) even loved it and asked for more. I don't have a Cast Iron pot (yet) and cooked mine in a large stock pot, came out wonderful. Also, I didn't use the turnip but instead added an extra potato. Can't wait to make it again and freeze it so I can bring it to work for lunch. Love-Love-Love
Lyn Corinne says
I am soooo happy to hear this! And even more joyous to hear that your picky kids loved it, too. It's your Momma soup now. Hope this is the start of a new tradition in your family.
Liz says
Somehow I read "parsnip" instead of "turnip"... oops! I'm sure my mistake will be a delicious one... I had about 2lbs of prime rib with the bones left over from Christmas and needed to use it before it spoiled. This recipe is the perfect solution!
Lyn Corinne says
I bet it will be, too!! I love parsnips, and I think that they will be great in the soup. Please let me know how it turned out.