Beef, Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

This soup was created about quite by accident and then ended up being so good that I had to write down the recipe so I could remember to make it again! It was the 4th day of my Master Face Reading Certification Program and my students were looking a little blood deficient. I wanted to make them a beef soup to build some blood. I had some ground beef and mushrooms on hand and planned on adding them to some barley, but I simply couldn't find any barley at the Irma store in Copenhagen. So I improvised and added wild rice instead.  It became this delicious, creamy and rich soup that was incredibly nourishing for my students.  This became a very requested recipe so I just had to post it.  

Beef, Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

1 pound (500 g) lean ground beef

1 8 oz package of button mushrooms, washed, trimmed and cut into small pieces

4 large Portobello Mushrooms, washed, trimmed and cut into small pieces

2 stalks celery, washed, trimmed and cut into a small dice

2 large carrots or 4 small, washed, trimmed, peeled and cut into a small dice

1 large or 2 small yellow onions, trimmed, peeled and cut into small pieces

3 Tablespoons Butter

2 cups of wild rice

10 cups diluted beef broth (I used Beef - Better Than Bouillon about 2/3 strength)

Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to Taste

For serving:  4 green onions, washed, trimmed and cut into small pieces for garnish

In a large soup pot, brown the ground beef with the onions, carrots and celery. Add in the beef broth and wild rice and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, melt the butter in a frying pan and add the mushrooms and Thyme.  Cook until softened and add to the soup.  Reduce heat and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes - testing rice for doneness.  Taste and add salt, if necessary and add pepper.  Sprinkle with green onions when serving.

Five Element Analysis

Soup by nature is a Water Food so that element is covered.  Beef and Mushrooms belong to the Earth Element and so do carrots, so this is a very Earthy soup! Wild Rice is not a rice at all, but is actually the seed of a wild marsh plant so it actually belongs to the Wood Element and the celery adds even more.  The yellow and green onions add the Metal Element and this element is also enhance it even more. Only the Fire Element is missing, so be sure to serve this with a Fiery food, perhaps a salad or a Fire Fruit dessert if soup is enough for you as a main course.