Hearty Beef & Freekeh Soup

Name: Hearty Beef & Freekeh Soup
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 people
Ingredients: 14 oz Beef Cubes; 1 cup Freekeh; 1 count Red Onions; 2 cloves Garlic; 1 tbsp Olive Oil; 1 tbsp Chicken Broth Powder; 1 count Cinnamon Sticks; 4 count Cardamom Pods; 1 tsp Sea Salt; 6 cup Water; 2 sprigs Thyme

Dairy-FreeBalanced • High ProteinOne-Pot • StovetopDinner • LunchComfort FoodLebanese/Arabic

Medium

55min

375kcal

4people

MACROS

per serving

※gProtein

◆gFat

▣gCarbs

◎gSugar

◇gFiber

Get Kitchen Buddy Free

Want to see the exact Macros for this meal? Download the Kitchen Buddy app and unlock full nutritional insights!

A healthy, diet-friendly take on a comforting classic, featuring tender beef cubes, smoky freekeh, and warm whole spices simmered into a deeply nourishing soup.

This deeply comforting Hearty Beef & Freekeh Soup is a wholesome, diet-friendly spin on a classic Middle Eastern staple. Simmered slowly with tender beef cubes, smoky and nutritious freekeh, and aromatic whole spices like cinnamon and cardamom, every spoonful brings immense warmth. Preparing this Hearty Beef & Freekeh Soup is surprisingly simple—it all comes together in one pot, making it fantastic for family dinners or meal prep. The earthy flavor of the roasted green wheat perfectly complements the savory broth, while fresh thyme adds a bright, herbaceous finish. Enjoy this Hearty Beef & Freekeh Soup on a chilly evening for a perfectly balanced, high-protein meal.

Ingredients

400 g Beef Cubes
160 g Freekeh (about 1 cup)
150 g Red Onions (1 large onion)
10 g Garlic (2 cloves)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Chicken Broth Powder
1 count Cinnamon Sticks
4 count Cardamom Pods
1 tsp Sea Salt
1500 ml Water
5 g Thyme (2 sprigs)

Instructions

1
Finely dice the red onions. Mince the garlic.
2
Place a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the beef cubes and sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
3
Lower the heat to medium and stir in the chopped red onions and garlic. Sauté for another 4 minutes until the onions soften slightly.
4
Rinse the freekeh thoroughly under cold water, then drain and add it to the pot along with the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods. Toast everything for 2 minutes to release the aromas.
5
Pour in the water, then stir in the chicken broth powder and sea salt.
6
Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the beef cubes and freekeh are completely tender.
7
Remove the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods before serving. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh leaves plucked from the thyme sprigs.

Chef's Tips

•For an even lower-fat option, after searing the beef, you can briefly drain any rendered fat from the pot before adding the onions.
•If your freekeh is whole (un-cracked), it may need an additional 15 minutes of simmering time compared to cracked freekeh.
•To make the broth thicker, mash a few pieces of the tender beef and freekeh against the side of the pot with your spoon before serving.

More recipes you might like

Recipe By

Kitchen Buddy Chef