Eggplant Supper Soup with Ground Beef and Pasta
This eggplant supper soup with ground beef and pasta recipe is a keeper.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter (salted)
- 1 large onion (white or yellow) peeled and chopped
- 1 large clove garlic peeled and chopped
- 1-1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup chopped carrots*
- 1 cup chopped celery*
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) cut tomatoes
- 1 carton (32 ounces) beef broth
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 teaspoons salt or salt to taste
- 1 medium size eggplant peeled (optional) and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup uncooked salad (diti pasta) macaroni*
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley curly parsley or Italian parsley; for the topping
- 2 tablespoons (heaping) grated Parmesan cheese for the topping
- *More can be used to stretch the servings; just add an extra cup of broth.
* More can be used to stretch the servings; just add an extra cup of broth.
Instructions
- For the Ground Beef, Onion and Garlic - In a large pot, add olive oil and butter. Turn the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic. Sauté the onion and garlic for about 4 minutes.
- To the pot, add lean ground beef and mix it in with the onions and garlic. (If your ground beef has a bit more fat in it than the lean does, cook the beef in a separate skillet).
- As the ground beef cooks, stir and break it apart so there aren't any big pieces or chunks of ground beef.
- After it’s thoroughly cooked, turn the heat off and transfer the ground beef mixture to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
- Then transfer the ground beef mixture from the plate back into the pot. If the ground beef is cooked separately, after transferring it on the paper towel lined-plate, transfer it back to the pot with the onions and garlic.
- For the Soup - Turn the heat (for the soup pot) back on to medium heat. To the pot with the ground beef mixture, add the carrots, celery, tomatoes, beef broth, water, pepper, salt, and cubed eggplant. Stir.
- Simmer the soup on low heat for 40 minutes or until the eggplant turns translucent.
- Then add the dry pasta* and chopped parsley.
- *The macaroni pasta tastes best when it's cooked al-denti (firm) so when making this soup, don't add the macaroni in it until 25 minutes before serving time. Otherwise, the pasta will continue to cook and turn soft if it's left in the pot to simmer further.
- Continue to simmer on low heat for 30 more minutes or until the macaroni pasta is cooked al dente (firm).
- Do a taste test and add more salt if needed. Salt really brings out the flavor in this soup.
- Serve right away (before the pasta cooks further) while warm and top each serving with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
TIPS:
- If the ground beef you're using isn't lean, cook the beef in a separate skillet.
- Regarding the Timing of Serving this Soup - The macaroni pasta in this soup which is added at the end tastes best when it's cooked al-denti (firm). So when making this soup, don't add the macaroni in the soup until 25 minutes before serving it. Otherwise, the pasta will continue to cook and turn soft if its left in the pot to simmer further.