Mastava – Hearty Beef and Rice Soup

Mastava is a beloved Central Asian soup that turns simple beef, rice and vegetables into pure comfort. Golden-browned beef simmers with peppers, tomato and warm cumin until every spoonful is rich and satisfying. Like our hearty meatball rice soup, this is the kind of bowl that warms you from the inside out.

Ingredients

• 240 g (8 oz) beef
• 30 g (2 tbsp) rice
• 30 g (2 tbsp) tomato paste
• 200 g (7 oz) potatoes
• 100 g (3.5 oz) bell pepper
• 50 g (1 small) onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 50 g (1 small) carrot
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 800 ml (3 1/3 cups) water
• Barberry, cumin, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, to taste

Instructions

1. Slice the beef and brown until golden.
2. Add the onion and carrot; saute until golden.
3. Add the bell pepper, a pinch of cumin and barberry; cook 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste; pour in the water and season with salt and pepper.
5. After it boils, simmer 25-30 minutes.
6. Add the rice and potatoes 10 minutes before done.
7. Add fresh herbs to each bowl when serving.

Tips

Take the time to brown the beef well — that golden crust is where the deep flavor comes from. Add the rice and potatoes late so the grains stay distinct and the potatoes don’t fall apart. If soups are your love language, our chicken soup with cheese dumplings is another cozy one-pot to try. For more one-pot dinner ideas, browse the recipe collections on Serious Eats.

Nutrition (per 100 g): 61 kcal, protein 4.3 g, fat 2.1 g, carbs 6.1 g.