Marsha'S Sweet Soup
A hearty, flavorful sweet soup with ground beef, vegetables, beans, and noodles, perfect for comforting family meals or casual gatherings with bold, savory flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 lb. ground beef ⓘ
- 1 small green pepper ⓘ
- 1 medium onion ⓘ
- 29 oz. tomato sauce ⓘ
- 1 large can tomato paste ⓘ
- 3 cans water ⓘ
- 1 can peas ⓘ
- 1 can carrots ⓘ
- 1 can chili beans (undrained) ⓘ
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley ⓘ
- 1/4 cup chili powder ⓘ
- 1 cup sugar ⓘ
- 1 cup cooked noodles (elbow, shell, vermicelli, etc.) ⓘ
Instructions
- Cook and drain ground beef, chopped green pepper, and chopped onion.
- In a large pot, add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water.
- Drain and add peas, carrots, and chili beans to the pot.
- Add cooked ground beef and vegetables to the pot.
- Stir in chopped parsley, chili powder, and sugar.
- Add cooked noodles to the mixture.
- Simmer, covered, on low heat for 30 minutes.
- If the mixture is too thick, add a little water.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider adding a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce or a splash of hot sauce. If you're short on time, pre-cooked ground beef can be a great time-saver. You can also substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based alternative for a lighter version. Experiment with different noodles to find your favorite texture, as this recipe is versatile like many American recipes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Marsha's Sweet Soup with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal. It's also delicious topped with shredded cheese or a dollop of sour cream. This dish pairs wonderfully with Tasty Soup for a hearty meal or a light dessert to balance the sweetness.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, warm in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of water if the soup is too thick. You can also use a microwave; just cover the bowl and heat in short intervals, stirring in between until hot.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Marsha'S Sweet Soup contains roughly 772 calories, with 27g protein, 121g carbohydrates, and 25g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (288% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (102% of the Daily Value), and iron (85% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1347mg per serving (59% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this soup vegetarian?
Yes, you can easily make this soup vegetarian by substituting the ground beef with a plant-based meat alternative or by simply omitting it altogether. Ensure to use vegetable broth instead of water for added flavor, and consider adding more beans or lentils for protein.
What can I use instead of tomato paste?
If you don't have tomato paste, you can use a combination of crushed tomatoes and a small amount of sugar to mimic the sweetness and thickness. Alternatively, reducing canned tomato sauce on the stove can create a similar texture and flavor.
How can I adjust the sweetness of the soup?
To adjust the sweetness, start by reducing the sugar amount by half and taste as you go. You can always add more if needed. Alternatively, incorporating a bit of vinegar can balance the flavors without adding more sweetness.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).