Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup

Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup

**Ingredients:**

– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 pound ground beef
– 1 medium onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 medium carrots, chopped
– 1 green bell pepper, chopped
– 1 red bell pepper, chopped
– 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
– 4 cups beef broth
– 1 cup water
– 1 teaspoon dried basil
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup quinoa or rice (optional for added texture)
– 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)

**Instructions:**

1. **Brown the Beef:**
– In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.

2. **Sauté the Vegetables:**
– Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot and sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped carrots, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper, and cook for another 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.

3. **Add the Broth and Tomatoes:**
– Pour in the beef broth, water, and diced tomatoes with their juice. Stir to combine.

4. **Season the Soup:**
– Add the dried basil, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce (if using). Stir well.

5. **Simmer:**
– Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

6. **Add Quinoa or Rice (Optional):**
– If using quinoa or rice, add it to the pot and cook according to package instructions until tender. This will add more texture and heartiness to the soup.

7. **Adjust Seasoning:**
– Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

8. **Serve:**
– Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot.