Hearty Beef and Bean Soup
A big-batch, stick-to-your-ribs soup built for cold weeks and easy lunches. Lean beef and cannellini beans do the protein and fibre, a rich tomato broth carries loads of veg, and the whole thing gets better every day it sits in the fridge.
Method
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Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high. Brown the beef mince, breaking it up, until well coloured. Drain off any excess fat.
💡 Tip: Don't rush the browning. Colour on the beef equals flavour in the broth. -
Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook for 5 minutes until softening. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute.
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Pour in the chopped tomatoes and beef stock, add the oregano and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.
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Add the cannellini beans and green beans and simmer for a final 8 to 10 minutes until the veg is tender. Season well and serve.
💡 Tip: Adding the green beans late keeps them from going grey and mushy.
Notes
Brown the beef properly before anything else goes in. Those caramelised bits are where the depth of the broth comes from.
Use lean mince (5 percent) to keep the fat sensible, and drain any excess after browning.
The cannellini beans add fibre and plant protein and make the soup more filling without more meat. Any white bean works.
This is a proper batch-cook. It keeps 4 to 5 days in the fridge, freezes for 3 months, and the flavour only improves.
Nutrition Information
| Calories | 292kcal |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 26g |
| Protein | 28g |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use beef chunks instead of mince?
Yes, but stewing beef needs much longer to go tender, closer to 90 minutes of gentle simmering. Mince keeps this a quick weeknight soup; chunks make it more of a stew.
How do I make it even higher in protein?
Add a second can of beans, or stir in some cooked lentils. Both lift the protein and fibre without changing the character of the soup.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Brown the beef first, then add everything except the green beans and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir the green beans in for the last 20 minutes.
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