🥘 Hearty Ground Beef Vegetable Soup (Mediterranean Style)

A warm, filling, protein-packed soup with classic Mediterranean herbs, olive oil, tomatoes, and colorful veggies.

⭐ Ingredients

Ground Beef Base

500 g (1 lb) lean ground beef
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium carrot, diced

Vegetables

1 cup diced potatoes (optional but hearty)
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup green beans, chopped
1 can (400 g) diced tomatoes
1 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)

Liquids & Seasoning

5 cups beef or vegetable broth
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
Salt & black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional for Mediterranean brightness)

🔪 Instructions

1. Brown the Beef

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
Add ground beef, breaking it apart.
Cook until browned (5–7 minutes).
Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrots.
Sauté until vegetables begin to soften.

2. Add Tomato Base

Stir in:

tomato paste
diced tomatoes
tomato sauce

Cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.

3. Add Broth & Vegetables

Add:

potatoes
zucchini
green beans
cabbage
broccoli
broth
bay leaf

Bring to a boil.

4. Season the Soup

Add:

paprika
oregano
thyme
basil
salt
pepper
crushed red pepper (optional)

Stir well.

5. Simmer

Reduce heat and simmer 20–25 minutes, until beef is tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy.

6. Finish with Mediterranean Freshness