Canadian Hamburger Soup

Lennie's Note:

This is my favourite recipe from the original Best of Bridge cookbook. I thought it was already posted here at Zaar, but since I can't find it I want to make sure it's included; I've only modified it slightly from the original. It's so easy to make and tastes so great!

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped fine
• 1 garlic clove, minced fine (my addition, original recipe uses no garlic)
• 1 (28 ounce) can plum tomatoes, undrained
• 4 cups low sodium beef broth
• 1 (10 ounce) can tomato soup
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped fine
• 4 celery ribs, leaves removed and chopped fine (add celery leaves to soup if you wish, I often do)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (original recipe used less, but I love thyme)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (even more is better)
• 1/3 cup barley (pearl barley or pot barley, both work fine)
• salt, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large dutch oven, brown meat, adding onions and garlic. When meat has lost its pink colour, drain off any excess fat if there is any visible.
2. Add all remaining ingredients, turn heat down to low so soup is barely simmering, cover, and let cook for about 2 hours (even longer is fine). After one hour, taste soup and add salt if necessary.
3. If you have leftovers (soup freezes well, so consider making the whole pot even if it's a lot for your family), be aware that it tends to thicken when cool. When reheating, I always add a little more beef broth.

Reviews

[CarolAnne in Canada]

Great economical comfort food. I made as directed...only change was to put ingredients into a slow cooker after browning meat and left it to bubble gently for the whole day. I am a "Best of Bridge" Cookbook fan and this did not dissapoint. Thanks!

[RJB]

We love this soup. My Mom made it fwhen I was a kid from the Company's Coming cookbook--that was about 30 years ago! I lost my CC cookbook 2 years ago when we moved so I went searching on Food.com and found it! Thanks for posting. Great fall and winter feast, especially with homemade bread. YUMMMM

[zoo66]

This is the best hamburger soup! My mom used to make this when I was a kid, and now I make it for my own kids. Also works well with ground turkey.