It’s as Easy as ABC…Homemade Alphabet Soup with Beef
Our homemade alphabet soup with beef is a playful treat filled with nutrition and warmth. This hearty soup is made from a delectable broth that simmers with a selection of fresh vegetables, finely chopped and sautéed to perfection. The dish’s highlight, however, is the fun pasta alphabet. We love to dive for letters in our soup and try to beat each other at making words!
Why We Love Alphabet Soup
Our alphabet soup is more than just a meal. It’s a fun dish to prepare that lets all of us – kids and parents – be kids again!
We do think it is key to not overload the soup with too much pasta. If you wind up with too many letters in the soup, it becomes trickier to dig them out for words.
Norah Says…
I like to try to make words with the letters that are on my spoon! Sometimes, I can make some really good words – sometimes, better than my sister.
Harper Says…
That isn’t true! My words are always better than hers!
Mom Says…
Do you know the meaning of the idiom, “alphabet soup?” For example, “That organization is full of alphabet soup!”
The idiom “alphabet soup” refers to something that is full of confusing wording or acronyms. My husband works for an organization that uses tons of acronyms to label its departments and projects. When he tells me stories from work, it’s just a bunch of alphabet soup to me so I have to keep interrupting him to ask for him to explain all the acronyms.
Sorry…once a teacher, always a teacher. That’s your English lesson for the day. Now, on to eating our delicious alphabet soup!
Ingredients
Broth
- 1 pound of beef with bone (brisket or a small beef roast; can also use simple ground beef but you will need to brown it first)
- 7 cups of water
- ¼ onion
- 1/4 carrot, chopped
- 1-2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon soup spices (a mixture of coriander, paprika, and parsley)
Soup
- 3 tablespoons corn
- 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 onion
- 3/4 carrots
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2/3 cup small alphabet-shaped pasta
- 3 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon soup spices (coriander, paprika and parsley mixture)
- Salt and pepper to taste
This recipe for Alphabet soup is a delightful and nostalgic dish where a medley of alphabet-shaped pasta swims in a flavorful broth, providing a playful and educational eating experience for all ages.
Where to Buy Alphabet Pasta
A few years ago, we had some trouble finding alphabet pasta at the store. It seems to be hit or miss. In fact, we even see where other moms were having trouble finding alphabet pasta at the store. However, for the most part, we can usually find alphabet pasta at Kroger, Walmart, and Amazon.
How to Make Alphabet Soup with Beef
First, you will make the beef broth by boling the raw beef with a handful of veggies, spices, and water. Around 40 minutes or so usually does the trick for us. (Note, we toss in a bit of onion and carrot whole for the broth. But we reserve most of the veggies to grate for a veggie sautee in the next step.)
Next, we use the remaining veggies, spices, and veggies strained from the cooked broth to sautee. This will add a dose of flavor to the alphabet soup.
Then, we take the boiled beef and chop it into bite-sized pieces before adding it back into the soup pot.
Finally, add the sauteed veggies and the chopped beef into the pot of strained and reserved broth. Begin to cook for about 12 minutes or so until the alphabet pasta is tender.
Storage, Advance Prep, and Reheating Instructions
- Allow homemade alphabet soup with beef to cool to room temperature before transferring it into an airtight container. Refrigerate the soup for up to 3-4 days, ensuring it is sealed tightly to preserve its freshness and prevent any absorption of odors from the refrigerator.
- For reheating, gently warm the homemade alphabet soup on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches the desired temperature. If needed, Add a broth or water to maintain the soup’s consistency. Alternatively, use a microwave to warm single-serve portions, covering the container with a microwave-safe lid or vented microwave cover, reheating in short intervals, and stirring in between until uniformly heated.
- Freezing: This soup freezes well. Let it cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Label and date the containers before freezing. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe Tips for Alphabet Soup with Beef Recipe
Taste the soup throughout the cooking process and adjust the seasoning as needed. A balance of salt, pepper, and any preferred herbs or spices will elevate the overall taste.
To add a zesty or savory note, consider finishing each serving with a touch of lemon zest or a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Substitutions and Variations for Beef Alphabet Soup
- Substitute traditional wheat-based alphabet pasta with gluten-free alternatives made from rice, quinoa, or chickpea flour for a gluten-free version.
- If you want to make this soup vegetarian or vegan, you can omit the beef broth and use vegetable broth instead. Also, to make the soup completely vegan, choose plant-based pasta.
- Infuse your soup with a bit of spice by adding chili flakes, jalapeños, or a dash of hot sauce for those who enjoy a spicy kick.
- Introduce other proteins like shredded chicken, diced ham, or cooked sausage to make your alphabet soup work with what you already have on hand. Many times, we use simple ground beef.
- Create a tomato-based alphabet soup by incorporating diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian herbs for a comforting and tangy twist. We often will add a can of Rotel with chilies to ours for a bit of heat.
- You can add more vegetables to this recipe, such as peas, celery, or zucchini. You can also adjust the degree of spiciness by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like it hotter.
- Adjust consistency: If the soup is too thick when you re-cook it, you can add a little water or broth to bring it to the desired consistency.
We hope you enjoy this comforting alphabet soup with beef as much as we do!
Alphabet Soup with Beef
Ingredients
Alphabet Soup Broth
- 1 lb Beef brisket or small beef shank
- 7 cups Water
- ¼ Onion Roughly chopped into large pieces
- ¼ Carrot Whole
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 1 tsp Parsley
Alphabet Soup Ingredients
- ½ cup Whole kernel corn Canned or frozen
- 2 Garlic cloves Minced
- ¾ cup Carrots Shredded
- ¾ cup Onion Chopped
- 1 Red bell pepper Diced
- 1 cup Alphabet pasta
- 3 tbsp Tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 1 tsp Parsley
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
To Make Alphabet Soup Broth
- Place beef with bone in a large pot and pour in 7-8 cups of water. Add the vegetables, bay leaves, and spices.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 30-40 minutes to produce a flavorful broth. Remove any impurities that rise to the surface.
- While broth is cooking, grate and chop the remaining carrots, onion, and bell pepper.
- Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add a little olive oil and stir-fry the chopped onion, carrots, red bell pepper, and chopped garlic until soft and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- After around 40 minutes, strain the broth and reserve only the broth and the beef. Cut the meat into small pieces, removing the bone.
Putting Together the Alphabet Soup with Beef
- When the vegetables are sauteed, pour them into the soup pot with the strained beef broth. Add the corn and alphabet-shaped pasta to the pot. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Add the tomato sauce. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Do not over-salt as the broth may carry a salty taste already. Let the soup simmer for another 10-12 minutes or until the alphabet pasta is cooked al dente and all the flavors have combined.
- Serve vegetable soup hot and garnish with fresh chopped dill or parsley, if desired.
Nutrition
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