(bacon) Cheeseburger Soup
Life is hard; food doesn't have to be #109 [vol3, 12.1]
This is one of my family’s all time favorite soups and is super versatile - add or subtract as your taste buds desire! The addition of ketchup and mustard makes it different than regular vegetable beef soup. Add whatever garnishes you prefer on your burger; potatoes are your “fries.”
Main Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
2 onions, chopped & 3 cloves garlic
8oz chopped mushrooms, optional
3 medium potatoes or 2 large, cubed
3 carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
3T mustard, or more
3T tomato paste*, ketchup, BBQ sauce or more
4-6 cups broth or more (how to make broth)
Sea salt, pepper, smoked paprika to taste, salt will depend if using homemade or store bought broth
Optional: fresh or frozen kale, pinto or kidney beans to stretch
*If using tomato paste, freeze the remainder of the can in 2T blobs and use those for the next time you need a bit of tomato paste.
Saute burger with salt and onion until meat is half cooked. My rule of thumb is 1t per pound of meat. Then add fresh garlic. (I start chopping everything else as the burger and onion are cooking.) Add mushrooms if using and sprinkle more salt. Add celery, carrots and potatoes (which represent the fries!) Sprinkle more salt and pepper. Cover this mixture with enough broth that everything is submerged (4-6 cups). Squeeze a generous helping of mustard then another of ketchup or tomato paste. Stir to combine and taste the broth once everything is mixed. Add more salt if needed. Cover and let simmer 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Note I recommend several additions of salt rather than dumping it all at the end. A bit of salt at a time will help draw out moisture, condensing flavors and providing a better end product. Salt along the way instead of all at your final destination.
Garnishes:
Crispy bacon
Shredded cheese
Scallions or pickled onions
Dill pickles, chopped (we like Bubbies dill relish for probiotics & enzymes)
Parsley, chopped
Avocado
I make this soup with 2 pounds of beef because leftovers are my fav. The soup also freezes well. Of course you can halve the recipe. Or give some away!
You know it’s good when the kids ask to take it for lunch in a thermos.
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be,
Julie
Looks delicious!