Steak and Ale Soup

This soup reminds me of a really good french onion soup - but better because it has beer and steak in it.  Check this out. 

Ingredients: 

1.5 pounds of round steak, chopped into bite sized pieces

4 TBSP flour

2 TBSP butter

2 TBSP olive oil

2 small white onions, quartered and then sliced thin

16 ounches sliced mushrooms

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp italian seasoning

1 cup ale (I used red tape today)

6 cups of beef stock (low sodium)

1 TBSP chopped parsley

1 tsp fresh thyme

salt and pepper

2 TBSP Worcestershire

Directions:

1. Marinate steak pieces in salt, pepper and Worcestershire for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours. 

2. Toss steak in 2 TBSP flour. 

3. Place a dutch over medium high heat.  Add butter and oil and once melted add the steak pieces. Cook for a total of 6 minutes. Remove from pot. 

4. Add mushrooms and onions with a little salt and pepper. Saute for 10 minutes or so until soft. 

5. Stir in the garlic and italian seasoning. 

6. Add the beer and stir. Let simmer, scrape up bits and evaporate for 5 minutes.

7. Sprinkle in the remaining 2 TBSP flour and stir. Cook for 2 minutes. 

8. Add back in the steak and slowly stir in the beef stock. 

9. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes or until steak is nice and tender. 

10. Add parsley and thyme. Taste for seasoning. 

Optional:

Toast up some old bread and use it as croutons. Today I had 7 grain wheat bread that i just tossed in olive oil and salt and pepper and baked it until crispy about 10 minutes.  To add to the french onion soup vibe I have going here I also had some gruyere cheese. I sliced it up and used that as well.  To finish the soup I topped it with a few croutons and then the cheese and placed the bowl under the broiler for 2 minutes.  Yum!