Beef, Potato and Quinoa Soup

For the meat and potato lover, this soup is for you. Hearty soups like this are exactly what I love about South American cuisine. A nourishing one pot meal, typically served with aji and avocado on the side.

This soup uses cooked quinoa, which is a South American seed which has become very popular in North America lately. Quinoa is very high in protein, and contains all 9 essential amino acids, lysine, phosphorous, copper, iron and magnesium. It's gluten-free and you can find it at any healthy food store, Amazon, Trader Joe's and even at your local supermarket.

The key to making a good beef soup is letting the beef simmer until it gets soft, the longer the better so the meat is tender. If you have a pressure cooker, this will cook in half the time and the meat will be incredibly soft.  I recommend buying a pressure cooker, it's great for making stews and beans in half the time, and the flavors really get into the food. I own a 6-quart Presto which is perfect for making a pot of beans.

Beef, Potato and Quinoa Soup

Adapted from Laylita's Recipes

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 4 • Size: 1-1/2 cups • Old Points: 7 pts • Points+: 8 pts

Calories: 307.9 • Fat: 13.8 g • Protein: 15.7 g • Carb: 31.3 g • Fiber: 4.6 g   

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 6-7 scallions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp Badia Sazon with Annato
• 1/2 lb beef, cubed into small bite size pieces (I used beef tenderloin)
• 5 cups water
• beef bullion
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 2 tbsp yellow bell pepper, diced
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa 
• 6 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste

Saute oil in a large pot, add scallions and garlic and sauté until soft over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Add tomato, cumin, sazon with achiote, 1/4 cup cilantro and cook another 2 minutes. Add beef, water, bullion, carrot, bell pepper, salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low about 1-1/2 hours, until meat is tender.

Add potato and cooked quinoa and cook an additional 25 minutes. Add remaining chopped cilantro and serve.