Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- 1/2-1 pound hamburger
- Chopped onion, garlic
- Canned tomato: chopped, sauce, paste (or a combination)
- Beer or red wine (optional)
- Chopped veggies
- Dried or fresh herbs
Step1
Start with ½ to 1 pound of ground beef. It’s best to use low fat (4-5%) beef. If you don’t have that, then just pour off the fat after you cook it. Brown the beef with a chopped onion and maybe some celery. You can start with frozen beef, just scrape off the browned part as it cooks to reveal the frozen part underneath.
Step2
Add a big can of chopped tomatoes. If you don’t have that, you can use tomato sauce or even tomato paste. (If you use tomato paste, you will have to add more water, of course.)
Step3
Add a bottle or can or beer or some red wine, if you like. The alcohol will burn off as it cooks but it leaves a very nice flavor.
Step4
Add more liquid, either beef or veggie broth or some bouillon and water. You want enough to cover the meat by at least several inches.
Step5
Add chopped veggies: fresh, frozen or canned. You can go exotic (chopped fennel bulb is amazing) or simple (just potatoes and carrots make wonderful soup).
Step6
Add dried or fresh herbs. Basil goes especially well with anything tomato.
Step7
Cook for about 20-25 minutes and serve in big bowls.
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