Ground Beef Pasta Soup with Garlic Parmesan Toast
This is a simple meal that is so easy to prepare. Ground beef, tomatoes, beans, Italian seasoning and pasta cooked in one pot and served with Garlic Parmesan toast. It's a hearty soup that my mother used to prepare often during the cold and dreary winter months.
Ingredients
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped fine
1 rib celery, chopped fine
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 to 2 hot peppers, chopped (Optional)
2 c. water
1 (14 to 14-1/2 oz.) can beef broth
1 (15-1/2 oz.) can Great Northern beans, undrained
1 (14-1/2 z.) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 c. uncooked pasta
2 c. small broccoli florets
Salt and pepper
Garlic Parmesan Toast
6 slices whole wheat bread
butter
garlic powder
4 Tbs. Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
Directions
Heat oven to 350° for the Garlic Parmesan Cheese Toast and 1 baking sheet
In a cast iron Dutch 0ven, over medium heat, add ground beef, onions, bell peppers, carrots, celery, garlic, and hot peppers. Cook, for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking the ground beef into crumbles, Cook until the beef is fully cooked, stirring occasionally.
Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour in water, beef broth, beans, tomatoes, Italian Seasoning, and pasta. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Add the broccoli and turn the heat up to medium high until the mixture comes to a boil. Then, reduce heat, cover and simmer 3 to 5 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
Meanwhile, prepare Parmesan Toast.
Butter one side of each bread slice. Place the bread on a baking sheet.
Sprinkle garlic powder evenly over each slice of bread. Then, sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly over each slice.
Bake in 350°F oven 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted. Serve with the soup.
