One-Pot Wonders

Beef Vegetable Soup Bourguignon

by:
January  6, 2014
4
19 Ratings
Beef Vegetable Soup Bourguignon
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

A little Burgundy wine, a little Worcestershire sauce, and the usual hearty beef—plus lots of potatoes and chard—take this version of classic beef vegetable soup into a nice and different direction. Top with grated Parmesan cheese to serve. —Waverly

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Waverly is a longtime Food52 member and two-time contest winner.
WHAT: A spicy take on the stick-to-your-ribs classic.
HOW: Add canned tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce to a pot of sautéed vegetables simmering in red wine and beef broth. Drop in browned beef, potatoes, and herbs, then simmer until the beef is cooked through. Stir in chopped chard and serve topped with Parmesan (and hot sauce!).
WHY WE LOVE IT: The chard, red wine reduction, and Worcestershire sauce add greenery and zest to this traditionally heavy dish. Make it Sunday evening for a dish to enjoy all week—on its own or spooned over rice or noodles. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch chunks and patted dry with paper towels
  • 1 cup finely chopped carrots
  • 1 cup finely chopped celery
  • 2 large yellow onions, finely chopped
  • 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir works well)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 quart beef broth
  • 1 1/2 pounds red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 (32-ounce) can diced fire roasted tomatoes with juice
  • 3 cups (or one 10-ounce bag) chopped chard
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper, plus more to taste
  • 1 dash Tabasco sauce, for serving
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions
  1. First, brown the beef in batches: In a stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium high. When the oil is hot, add only enough beef to the pan so that the pieces are not touching. If the beef is crowded, the pieces will steam instead of brown. Brown all sides of the beef and remove them to a plate when done. Continue to brown the beef this way until all of it is browned. Season the beef on the plate lightly with salt. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
  2. Make the soup base: Add the carrots, celery, and onions to the hot pan and sauté until they are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté one minute more. Add the red wine. Stir everything while the wine simmers in the pan, scraping up any browned bits leftover from cooking the meat. Let the wine simmer until it is reduced a bit, about 1 minute. Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes with their juices, and beef broth. Add the browned beef (including any juices on the plate), potatoes, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir everything until it is combined. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat so that the soup simmers. Cover the pot and simmer over low heat until the beef is fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the chopped chard and simmer 20 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  3. To serve: Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Ladle soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Place Tabasco on the table so that each person can add as much as they like.
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  • CisNieto
    CisNieto
  • geridavidson
    geridavidson
  • Maserati
    Maserati
  • Harriette Carrington
    Harriette Carrington
Waverly
Waverly used to be a lawyer and is now a mother 24/7. She has made a commitment to cooking for her family and absolutely loves it even when her family does not. She is teaching them, one meal at a time, to enjoy wholesome homemade food. She abhors processed food but recognizes its insidious nature and accepts the fact that her children will occasionally get some Skittles, Doritos, or the like. Her philosophy and hope is that if she teaches them well at home, they will prefer wholesome healthy foods when they go out into the world without her.

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9 Reviews

CisNieto
CisNieto January 2, 2023
Delicious soup - lots of vegetables and the meat was so tender. The flavor was delicious. My husband loved it too.
 
CisNieto
CisNieto January 2, 2023
Forgot to mention that in lieu of chard I used kale.
 
Stephanie H.
Stephanie H. January 13, 2022
I made this exactly as written with the omission of the chard, as this was a spur of the moment meal and I had none. What an amazing stew. Seriously: a streamlined ingredient list with a narrow seasoning profile (bay + thyme) kept this dish's attitude clear and concise. It was incredibly filling and definitely satisfying. I will add this into my family's rotation. Leftovers were a hundred times better!
 
geridavidson
geridavidson December 21, 2018
I made this for my family and they loved it. I shared it with a friend. Can't wait to make it again.
 
Maserati
Maserati December 17, 2018
Made this soup on a rainy afternoon, I had never made it before, amazing. I ended up doubling the recipe. I probably added more garlic and onions than what the recipe calls for, overall I will be making this on winter nights.
 
N
N May 2, 2017
This is a great soup! I used white beans instead of potatoes because I am freezing leftovers but the combo of the beef, red wine and Worcestershire sauce is a winner!
 
Harriette C.
Harriette C. May 12, 2014
This made a huge pot and was delicious on a wet, windy night. I thought that the tomatoes made the broth too acidic for my liking but the meat was nice and tender. Thanks for posting!
 
HenrysMom
HenrysMom February 1, 2014
I take it back! After simmering for 1.5 hours the flavors are just right. Delish on this cold wet wintery mix of a day.
 
HenrysMom
HenrysMom February 1, 2014
This is good! But is it possible that the measurement for Worcestershire sauce is incorrect? It's pretty strong as written. I'd say 1 T would be enough.