Tasty Meat & Potato Soup

This is a great cold weather soup, it is comforting and tasty and best of all you can make it in an afternoon without a lot of fuss. It can simmer on low on the stove top until you are ready to serve. It is a wonderful meal served with fresh crusty bread.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 45 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 1 1⁄2 lbs  sirloin steaks, thinly sliced, 2 inch pieces
• 1  sweet onion, medium, coarsely chopped
• 2  teaspoons garlic, finely chopped
• 3  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon thyme, fresh
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 5  cups vegetable broth
• 2 -3  instant Oxo, cubes (beef oxo or knorr)
• 2  teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2  cups tomatoes, diced with juice
• 1  red pepper, jarred, diced
• 1 1⁄2 cups potatoes, peeled, 1 inch cubes
• 1 1⁄2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1  cup celery, sliced thin
• 1⁄2 cup mushroom, sliced
• 1  poblano chile, seeded, diced
• 4  tablespoons basil, fresh, chopped

Directions

1. Melt butter and oil in a large pan over medium heat until foam disappears, stir in the steak, onion and garlic and cook and stir until meat and onions are browned about 10 - 15 minutes.
2. Next, mix together flour, thyme, salt and pepper, sprinkle the flour over the browned meat and stir to coat.
3. In a large pot add the vegetable broth, oxo cubes, Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, diced red pepper and meat mixture; bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 45 minutes to an hour.
4. Next add the potatoes, carrots, celery, mushrooms and poblano chile and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the soup has thickened.
5. If you find the soup too thick add more vegetable broth, a little at a time.
6. Just before serving stir the fresh chopped basil into the soup.