Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prepare and brown the meat
- Heat a 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high and add 1 tablespoon oil; add 1 lb ground beef and let brown undisturbed 2–3 minutes, then break up and finish browning 4–5 more minutes until no pink remains; season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and transfer beef to a plate, leaving fond in the pot.
Build the soup base
- Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon oil if needed; cook 1 diced onion and 1 cup diced carrot 5 minutes until softened, add 3 cloves minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano and cook 30 seconds, then stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
- Add one 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes and 5 cups low-sodium beef broth, scraping up browned bits; return beef to the pot and stir to combine.
Simmer with peppers
- Stir in 1 diced green bell pepper and most of the diced red bell pepper (reserve 1/2 cup); bring to a simmer, then lower heat and simmer gently 10 minutes to develop flavor.
Add rice and finish
- Rinse 3/4 cup long-grain white rice until water runs nearly clear, stir into simmering soup, cover, and simmer gently 12–15 minutes until rice is tender but not mushy; check a grain after 12 minutes and add up to 1/2 cup extra hot broth or water if soup thickens too much.
- Stir in the reserved 1/2 cup diced red pepper and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley just before serving.
Serve
- Ladle into bowls and offer shredded cheddar as an optional topping; store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Use 85/15 ground beef for flavor but drain excess fat if you choose a fattier grind. If using brown rice, increase broth to 6 1/2 cups and simmer 30–40 minutes. To freeze, cool and freeze before adding the reserved fresh peppers; thaw overnight before reheating.
