Roast Beef & Vegetable Soup using leftover beef roast can be made entirely from scratch or in this case, from pot roast made days earlier.
Is it winter where you are? If so, you’re probably in the mood for hearty soup. The kind that when the spoon drops to the bottom of the empty bowl, you are warmed through and satisfied all the way down to your toes.
I’m talking a complete dinner in one bowl.
At our house, soup is a weekly addition to the menu as soon as the calendar dips below October. Little else soothes a bone-chilling day quite like stew, soup, chowder, or chili.
The best soups are created from layers of flavor and a good base (broth or stock) is essential to soup.
That’s why when my daughter called asking for comfort food recipe ideas, specifically soup suggestions, I recommended Beef Pot Roast.
“Mom, I want to make soup,” she said, like I didn’t hear the original request.
“Exactly, so start with beef pot roast, which tops the comfort food list all on its own. Then you’ll have what you need for a great pot of soup.” I tell her a little more insistently.
I think she was mildly intimidated to take on two recipes to assuage her hankering, but she knew I was only a phone call or text away if she hit a snag.
When she finally pulled it out of the oven, I said, “Congratulations, you just made Boeuf Bourguignon.”
“What?” Now she’s confused.
“It sounds more difficult than it is, but you did it.” (Proud mom over here.)
“Oh, great. Now I can make soup.” She pipes up with new confidence.
“Yes, but first put some butter on those potatoes and carrots, pour some wine and enjoy your savory beef, sumptuous gravy, and roasted vegetables first. Then make soup.”
After talking about pot roast all afternoon and knowing how the aroma was filling her cozy rooms, I had to make it too. Of course, this led to Roast Beef & Vegetable Soup (because she needed a recipe for that too).
I’ve made this type of soup a dozen or more times with either leftover Beef Pot Roast or Osso Buco Style Beef Ribs, but now it’s finally written down, including pressure cooker instructions in the notes.
Hey, when your kids need you … right?!
How to make Beef & Vegetable Soup Using Pot Roast Leftovers:
This soup recipe comes together from leftover pot roast, so the measurements of each ingredient may need to be supplemented with fresh meat or vegetables.
- The amounts can be made up with fresh vegetables of choice, i.e. fresh carrots added to the amount of roasted carrots to equal 1 cup, parsnip substituted for cauliflower, and so on.
- When adding raw stew meat, be sure to brown the meat in a skillet before adding it to the soup.
- Vegetables with lower water content are ideal for soup to hold their texture and shape—potato, parsnip, carrot, cauliflower, peas, peppers, green beans, eggplant.
- Cabbage, spinach, asparagus, and broccoli can also be used, however the stronger flavor of these add-ins can overwhelm the more subtle flavors of Beef & Vegetable Soup.
- When adding vegetables with higher water content, saute in a skillet before adding to the soup, then add-in the last few minutes of cooking to retain texture.
Roast Beef & Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup barley uncooked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced sweet yellow onion (1/2 large onion)
- 1 cup cubed celery root (1/4" cubes)
- 1 cup chopped cauliflower (1/4" pieces)
- 3/4 cup diced celery (3 stalks)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 - 2 inch piece Parmesan rind optional
- 1 1/2 cup gravy with mushrooms (pot roast leftovers) **see note
- 26-28 ounces chopped tomatoes San Marzano tomatoes are ideal
- 2 cup roasted potatoes (pot roast leftovers) -- cut into 1/2" cubes
- 1 cup roasted carrots (pot roast leftovers) -- cut into 1/4" pieces
- 1/2 cup peas
- 1 1/3 lb roast beef (pot roast leftovers) -- cubed 1/2" pieces
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Bring barley and 3 cups water to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Drain and set aside when barley is tender and cooked through.
- In a large soup pot over medium heat, add the oil, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and edges begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Add any uncooked vegetables--in this case I had a small amount of raw potato, celery root, and cauliflower--along with the garlic, dry herbs, salt and pepper. Continue to cook until vegetables soften (add oil as needed), about 10 minutes.
- Add the broth, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind to the vegetables and bring to a low boil. Stir-in gravy, tomatoes, peas, (leftover) cooked vegetables, barley, and meat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes to meld flavors.
- Stir-in parsley the last 5 minutes of cooking, adjust seasoning for salt and pepper, to taste. Serve hot.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
Shared on the following Blog Hops:
Hearth & Soul Hop
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Homemade Chicken Stock for Soup
Deanna says
This will be my first time making soup. I made pot roast yesterday in the Crock-Pot. How much of that water (beef broth?) should I use in the soup?
Thanks so much in advance.
Judy Purcell says
Hi Deanna, that’s a great question. If you have roughly the same quantities of individual ingredients as listed in the recipe, the 8 cups of broth added in step 4 should work out well. But if you’re unsure or don’t want to measure it all out, you can put everything else in the pot and then add enough of the broth to make it as thick or broth-y as you like. Here’s another secret: if you end up adding more broth than you wanted and it’s too soupy, you can take 1-2 cups of the soup and blend it to thicken it up. 🙂
I hope this helps! Let me know how it turns out for you!
Linda Holder says
How long in a crockpot if you do that way?
Judy Purcell says
Hi Linda, that’s a good question. Here’s the way I’d go about making this soup in the crockpot:
1. While the barley is cooking, sautee the onions as directed in step 2 (you don’t have to do this, but I like the flavor it adds when onions are a little browned on the edges)
2. Once the barley is done, combine steps 3 & 4, put everything in a slow cooker and cook on high for 1 /12 to 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. The time will really depend on your slow cooker – mine runs too hot on high and boils, so I tend to use the low temp.
3. Stir in the parsley a few minutes before serving.
Let me know if you have anymore questions – you can reach me a by Facebook messenger too for a quicker response. 🙂
Becky says
Made this for the first time last night. It’s just the two of us so I made a half batch. It was fantastic! I usually end up using leftover roast and gravy for stroganoff, this is a nice addition to my recipe box. Thanks!
Judy Purcell says
Becky, you made my day! I love hearing back about recipes and I’m so pleased you liked it so much. It’s great when we can enjoy the leftovers as much as the original meal. 🙂
Doug says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing – it is always good to be able to cook in more quantities than you need and to re-purpose your leftovers.
swathi says
Looks delicious thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning
Raymund says
Nice hearty dish, perfect for dinner in a cold and wet night
Judy Purcell says
It really is what I crave when the weather is cold and wet!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Leftover over pot roast has so many great uses, doesn’t it? I sometimes make soup from it too. Haven’t done that in a while — I should. And it’s winter here, so we’re having soup tonight (hot and sour soup). Good post — thanks.
Judy Purcell says
Mmm, hot and sour soup is great too! Yes, leftover pot roast is good in so many ways …
Giovanna Rodriguez says
Delicious! Thanks for sharing and happy New year! 🙂
Judy Purcell says
Thanks Giovanna, Happy New Year to you!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I love meals that come from leftovers but don’t look like leftovers at all – they look brand new and gorgeous like this one!