Mogau's granny's beef bone-and-veggie soup

"I still make my grandmother's bone and veggie soup every winter. Every winter school holiday we would all go to my grandparents' home – me, my sister and all our cousins. One of our favourite things to do every chilly Saturday night would be to sit in the kitchen next to the huge coal stove with a bowl of soup and pot bread to listen to our grandparents' stories. My grandma grew her own veggies and that's what went into most of the food we ate at her house. The house would be filled with the delicious smell of that soup and, best of all, the heat from the stove made it warm. The only thing left to do would be to curl up in bed. We had to be in bed early to make it in time for church the next day where we – as the deacons' grandchildren – would have to take turns ringing the big church bell and putting out the prayer books. We took pride in the responsibility.

 

To save time, this version uses a Woolies fresh vegetables and barley soup as a base. Bulk it up with more veggies – I use the minestrone soup mix – if you wish."

Serves 8 
Preparation: 15 minutes 
Cooking: 45 minutes

 

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INGREDIENTS

  • 800 g beef bones
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 2 tsp garlic-and-ginger paste
  • 1 pack fresh vegetables and barley soup
  • 1 pack minestrone soup mix
  • 1 tub vegetable stock concentrate
  • dombolo, for serving

 

METHOD

  1. Season the beef bones generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and brown the bones. Remove from the pan, add the onion and sauté 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for a further 2 minutes.
  4. Add in the minestrone soup mix and mix to begin to wilt and cook the vegetable.
  5. Dissolve half the stock concentrate in 1 cup boiling water to make a broth. Add to the soup and return the bones to the stove simmer for about 20 minutes.
  6. Stir in the veg and barley soup and combine well. Simmer about 10 - 15 minutes and serve with dombolo or bread.