Chef Billy Parisi - The Soup We Could Eat Everyday
The recipe begins with preparing beef, either pre-cooked or fresh, cut into bite-sized pieces. The beef is seared in a pot with olive oil to develop a brown crust, enhancing the soup's flavor. Onions and garlic are sautéed, followed by the addition of tomato paste and optional red wine for depth. A gallon of beef stock is added, along with the seared beef, and the mixture is simmered to enrich the flavors. Vegetables like carrots, celery, parsnips, green beans, corn, and potatoes are prepared and added to the soup. The soup is thickened using a beurre manié, a mixture of butter and flour, to achieve a rich consistency. Optional ingredients like mushrooms and pasta are cooked separately and added to the soup before serving. Fresh herbs and seasonings are added for final flavor adjustments. The soup is stored in containers for future use, making it a convenient meal option.
Key Points:
- Use pre-cooked or fresh beef, seared for flavor.
- Add vegetables like carrots, celery, and potatoes for heartiness.
- Thicken soup with beurre manié for a rich texture.
- Incorporate optional ingredients like mushrooms and pasta.
- Store in containers for easy future meals.
Details:
1. 🍲 Discovering the Ultimate Soup
- Vegetable beef soup is highly regarded for its hearty nature, combining tender beef and a variety of vegetables to create a satisfying meal.
- It is frequently consumed several times a week by enthusiasts, highlighting its potential for regular inclusion in meal plans due to its appealing taste and nutritional value.
- The soup serves as a practical solution for using leftover ingredients, promoting cost efficiency and reducing food waste.
- It offers a classic, traditional flavor profile that appeals to those preferring no-frills, comforting meals.
- Preparation can be customized by varying the types of vegetables and seasonings used, allowing for personal taste preferences and dietary needs.
- Compared to other popular soups, vegetable beef soup stands out for its balance of protein and vegetables, providing a wholesome and nourishing option.
2. 🔪 Mastering Beef Preparation
2.1. Beef Preparation
2.2. Cooking Techniques
3. 🧄 Sautéing Aromatics with Precision
- Begin by sautéing diced onions over medium heat for 5 minutes, then lower the heat to deepen caramelization and enhance flavor by cooking for an additional 10 minutes. This process is crucial as it develops the natural sugars in the onions, creating a rich base for your dish.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, roughly 30 to 45 seconds, to boost the aromatic profile without burning it, which can cause bitterness.
- Incorporate 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, cooking it for 4 to 5 minutes over low to medium heat to deepen umami flavors and add acidity. This helps in building a robust, complex flavor profile for the dish.
4. 🍅 Deepening Flavors with Tomato and Wine
- De-glazing with one cup of dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot enhances flavor complexity, and dark beer like Guinness can be an alternative, offering a different rich profile.
- Incorporating one gallon of homemade beef stock is recommended for optimal flavor quality, emphasizing the use of a homemade recipe.
- Reintroducing cooked beef before adding vegetables ensures the meat becomes tender without overcooking the vegetables, thus maintaining a desirable texture.
- Seasoning with a bay leaf, kosher salt, and freshly cracked pepper is crucial for enriching the soup’s flavor profile.
- Bringing the mixture to a boil by turning the heat to high is vital for achieving the desired texture and flavor integration.
5. 🥕 Veggie Prep and Integration
5.1. Vegetable Preparation
5.2. Cooking Tips
6. 🥣 Perfecting the Soup's Texture
- Use a Berman (kneaded butter) to thicken soup for a richer texture. Mix one stick of softened unsalted butter with 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour and knead well. Add this mixture to the soup in thirds over medium heat, stirring each addition until fully dissolved to achieve desired viscosity without over-thickening.
- Enhance tomato flavor by adding a 128 oz can of San Marzano tomatoes or any whole peeled tomatoes. Crush the tomatoes by hand before adding to the soup to enhance flavor.
- Cook the soup for 25 to 30 minutes after adding thickener and vegetables to ensure the flour taste is cooked out and vegetables are cooked to Al Dente consistency.
- Optional: Add pasta, such as ditalini, to the vegetable beef soup for added texture and flavor, if desired.
7. 🍄 Mushroom Magic and Herb Enhancements
- Boil pasta for 7 to 9 minutes until Al Dente, then rinse under cold water and coat with olive oil to prevent sticking, ensuring a perfect texture for integration into other dishes.
- Sauté mushrooms in olive oil, leaving them untouched for 4 minutes to release natural juices, then sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes to enhance their Umami flavor before incorporating them into soup, maximizing taste and texture.
8. 🍽️ Serving and Storing Like a Pro
- 1. Enhance soup flavor with 1 1/2 tablespoons of minced fresh rosemary, thyme, and 1/4 cup of parsley at the end of preparation.
- 2. Season with coarse salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and optionally, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco for a spicy kick.
- 3. Serve soup professionally by adding pasta separately into the bowl to preserve its texture.
- 4. Top with Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh parsley for an authentic Italian presentation.
- 5. Store soup in 32 oz deli containers; label with dates and freeze to ensure quality and easy access later.
- 6. For reheating, thaw soup in the refrigerator overnight and gently warm on the stove to maintain flavor and texture.
- 7. The soup is crafted to simmer all day, making it a ready-to-enjoy meal.
- 8. Introduce Italian wedding soup as another flavorful option, with recipe videos available for guidance.