Beef, Potato, Mushroom and Kale Soup

Name: Beef, Potato, Mushroom and Kale Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8 Bowls of soup, 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs stewing meat, diced (I cut them in 1-inch pieces, you don't want them too small so they completely fall apart after they ); 1 carrot, cut in 3-inch pieces and in 1/2 lengthwise; 1 rib celery, cut in 3-inch pieces; 1 small onion, cut in half; 2 cups water; 4 cups beef broth; 1/2 cup red wine (cabernet works great or even a burgundy); 1 bay leaf; 1 tablespoon olive oil (to saute the beef); salt; pepper; 1 large onion, diced; 3 (15 ounce) cans potatoes, drained (yes canned potatoes are fine for this, you can add less potatoes if you want); 3 cups cremini mushrooms, rough chopped in quarters (3 cups after chopped, you could use white or button, but I prefer cremini for the flavor); 1 lb kale, steams removed and rough chopped (the stems are very tough); 2 teaspoons garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon olive oil, to saute the onions and garlic; 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, fine chopped; salt; pepper

Submitted by SarasotaCook

"This is such a great cozy soup. It is not the quickest cooking, but it is well worth it. Stewed meat in a rich broth with cremini mushrooms, potatoes, garlic, onion and kale at the last minute for a hearty texture. It isn't a stew but it is thick and rich in flavor. I do use a fairly lean stewing meat, but I cook it slow and just let it simmer to get rich flavors and tender. Finish it up with some fresh thyme and you have a great soup."

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Ready In:: 1hr 10mins
Ingredients:: 20
Yields:: 8 Bowls of soup
Serves:: 8

ingredients

Meat and Broth
1 ¹⁄₂ lbs stewing meat, diced (I cut them in 1-inch pieces, you don't want them too small so they completely fall apart after they )
1 carrot, cut in 3-inch pieces and in 1/2 lengthwise
1 rib celery, cut in 3-inch pieces
1 small onion, cut in half
2 cups water
4 cups beef broth
¹⁄₂ cup red wine (cabernet works great or even a burgundy)
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon olive oil (to saute the beef)
salt
pepper
Soup Base
1 large onion, diced
3 (15 ounce) cans potatoes, drained (yes canned potatoes are fine for this, you can add less potatoes if you want)
3 cups cremini mushrooms, rough chopped in quarters (3 cups after chopped, you could use white or button, but I prefer cremini for the flavor)
1 lb kale, steams removed and rough chopped (the stems are very tough)
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil, to saute the onions and garlic
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, fine chopped
salt
pepper

directions

Beef and Broth -- First, remove the beef to the counter to take the "chill" off, and season well with salt and pepper. Then, in a large pot, add the olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Simmer the beef until golden brown on each side. Remember to do a little at a time so you don't over crowd the pan. If you put in too many pieces in at a time, they will just steam vs brown. After the meat is done, just remove to a plate on the side. Time to deglaze the pot. Add in the wine and deglaze scraping up all the bits on the bottom of the pot. Then add in the small onion cut in half, the carrot, celery and the beef. Then add in the water and broth and turn to low heat and simmer, covered. It should take around 1 hours You want the meat tender but not falling completely apart. This time depends on how small you cut your pieces and the cut of meat you purchased. Just take a look after 1 hr, it can take up to 1 1/2 hrs to be tender.
Soup Base -- When you beef is just about done, it is time to make the Base Flavors. In a large saute pan, add the olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Add in the onion and garlic and saute for about 3 minutes until lightly golden but not too brown but tender. Add in the mushrooms (remember, I don't like mine too fine chopped, this is a rustic soup) and continue to saute until the mushrooms begin to get tender and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Then add in the potatoes (drained) and stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Beef -- Now it is time to remove the carrots, celery and onion from the beef. Remember they are large pieces so they will be easy to take out. And don't forget the bay leaf. This was all used just to flavor the beef and the broth.
After your removed the vegetables, add your fresh sauteed vegetables to the meat mixture and stir well. Bring to a medium boil and add in the chopped kale. Turn to medium low and the kale will only take about 10 minutes to cook and become tender.
Finish -- Check for any additional seasoning, salt or pepper and add in the thyme and stir well.
Garnish -- I love to serve a toasted baguette with melted swiss cheese - absolutely perfect for dipping. A hearty perfect cozy night soup. ENJOY!

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

SarasotaCook

Sarasota, Florida

Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.

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