I am about as under the weather as can be. I can not even drink coffee. Yes. I know – THE HORROR!
And I just got off the Phone with Jeff who is also about as unamused to be alive today as I am. He informed me (more like whined to me for a while and then told me) he was making soup – which made me very jealous as I am in Chicago far away from said soup and he makes some good soup. Ahem. There better be some left over for me tomorrow… Tho it got me thinking of one of my favorite soups to make on cold dreary hang out in bed and watch Chuck reruns or Princess Bride days. It is quick, tasty and spicy – sure enough to scare away the sniffies. Especially if you add my secret ingredient.
Gather the following:
1# of lean beef – ground
1 onion diced
3 carrots diced
3 celery diced
2 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
1 t fresh thyme (about 1/3 if using dried)
2 cups diced tomatoes or 1 15 oz can diced with juices
4 C beef broth
1/2 C barley
1 7.75 oz can super secret El Pato Mexican hot style tomato sauce (Oh noes the SECRET IS OUT!)
Salt and pepper to taste
The tough part:
Cook up the beef in a large stock pot. Add the carrots, onion and celery and cook till you are happy. Or till the onions are happy, which ever happens first. Add the garlic and cook till golden. Then add the bay leaf, thyme (if dried. If fresh – wait till about the last 20 minutes of cooking), tomatoes, broth, el pato super duper secret tomato sauce and barley. Cook about 45 minutes to an hour or until barley is done to your liking. I hate mushy barley so I tend to lean on the short time side. Taste. Salt and pepper… taste again? You like? Serve it up with a light topping of your favorite cheese. The el Pato sauce is one of my “go too’s”. I add it to my world famous lasagna, chicken soup, just about anything to throw in some tasty kick. It has a wonderful flavor and a touch of heat and is just perfect when you don’t have a steady supply of fresh chilies because it is freaking winter…
I like to top this soup with some fresh shredded Parmesan or Mexican queso fresco cheese. Oh yea… you know you will be feeling reallllllll good in just about 3… 2… 1… Ah!
The el Pato sauce is found in most grocery stores in the Mexican section, not the tomato section. That is how I have hid from you all these years btw ha ha!
But really. Serious. Try it.
Now.
26 Comments
The hell? Since we’re all sick, have him pack some up and send some to me, too. Or you can.
Looks so good!! Love the supah secret ingredient!
MMMMM Anything Spicy, Garlicky and Oniony makes me happy. I’ll bookmark this one and make the hub make it for me.
If you had a look at my blog lately, you probably noticed that I love filling soup
Your soup looks very yummy. I’m not sure I can find this spicy tomato sauce. If I can’t, I’ll add sambal oelek 
Thanks for posting this recipe. And I hope you’re going to feel better soon. I’m fine but my son is sick with pneumonia and I have to stay home with him all week 
I can’t find the El Pato Mexican hot style tomato sauce in Canada. I’ll see if I can find a replacement.
Heather, zesty, spicy soups are perfect for colds and the winter. I love the flavours but I would roll the mince into meatballs, k?
Looks like a great soup. The spicy tomato sauce sounds wonderful!
Ah soup & hamburger soup at that! Comfort food in a bowl! Nuttin’ bettah!
They say eating hot sauce will chase any sickness right away
Oh sweetie, feel better soon!
Great soup, that should cure you.
That was certainly contagious… just hopped on amazon to order the El Pato — I await the UPS truck with baited breathe -
Love your blog! One of the first blogs we’ve come across similar to ours! ;]
nice easy soup with very complicated results – and good secret ingredient too!
little scotch and honey
Excellent comfort food and probably nicely sinus clearing with some good hot sauce.
Im in 40 degree heat in Australia but I couldn’t resist making this. Utterly delicious!
Being sick is the worst. I tend to not want to ingest anything. Except for ice cream. But that is a whole other story.
Spicy food also does the trick. It clears you up in a snap. This looks like an awesome awesome soup. I could see myself making it the next time I’m laying in bed comatose.
And I second the scotch and honey. The alcohol will kill all the bacteria. Right?
Great post. I’m always looking for great blogs and I really like yours.
Great soup for the cold weather! I hope everything is going better.
The hot sauce is really, really intriguing! Tomato hot sauce…that’s nice!
Hope you feel better, the soup sure looks very tasty and the spice will definitely help you
Mmmm…that sounds so good. I hope you get feeling better fast!
sorry you’re feeling dumpy–i must say that i don’t think i’ve ever felt so bad that i didn’t want coffee. (do you think i might have a problem?)
your soup sounds spicy and uplifting, for sure. the idea of queso fresco on top is infinitely appealing–nicely done.
and hey–get well soon!
your soup looks tasty and sounds good.
Ms Recipe
This is my boyfriends new fav recipe for soups/stews!
And yes, the el pato is perfect, tonight we are trying roasted chicken as meat.
I am so addicted to that sauce it is almost scary. I also make a great Mexican Rice with it. Just like in the restaurants. Okay now I am starved.