# What vegetables belong in a vegetable beef soup? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928 "2010-10-12T22:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/1 "2010-10-12T22:37:05Z")
Just a poll for your polling pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/2 "2010-10-12T22:44:19Z")
Celery is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/3 "2010-10-12T22:50:21Z")
Well, you definitely need your standard mirepoix (carrots, celery, and onion). I will accept celery root/celariac in lieu of celery stalks. After that, it’s up to you, but generally I want to also see potatoes in there, and maybe some parsnip. I generally do not use green beans, peans, or lima beans (and have never used corn.) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/4 "2010-10-12T22:55:44Z")
Celery or celeriac is essential for most Western style soups. Carrots and onions (or spring onions) I like. For Thai style soup: you can leave out the celery, but you must add ginger and lemongrass and probably fish sauce. Everything else is optional, but potatoes or parsnip are nice. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/5 "2010-10-13T02:26:52Z")
Possible alternatives include barley and turnips, though my roomie likes parsnips. No mushrooms allowed, I am deathly allergic. herbs: bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, marjoram and black pepper. Salt is added to taste, at least a tiny pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/6 "2010-10-13T02:30:28Z")
The beauty of vegetable beef soup is that you can use whatever veggies you like or have on hand. I voted for all of them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/7 "2010-10-13T02:38:29Z")
I think the first four ingredients (mirepoix plus potatoes) are essential. The rest are optional (though a tomato base is very common). There’s nothing _wrong_ with any of the other ingredients, it’s just about throwing in whatever you’ve got on hand at that point. I like to throw in barley myself. Asparagus and okra can also be interesting additions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/8 "2010-10-13T02:42:08Z")
Any vegetables are fine, except lima beans, which should be eradicated from the planet, including any cultivars or other variations which could be used to regenerate the line. Any remaining traces of lima beans, along with ten feet of soil removed from any land ever used to grow lima beans, should be incinerated in an underground nuclear explosion. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/9 "2010-10-13T02:45:32Z")
Whatever you’ve got on hand. Isn’t that half the purpose of soup? ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/10 "2010-10-13T02:49:53Z")
Other: Swede or Turnip. ETA: Beer. What do you mean it’s not a vegetable? Made from grain… an’ stuff… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/11 "2010-10-13T02:52:35Z")
I vote for everything except lima beans, although corn is a bit of a stretch. I think broccoli, while not the most fitting ingredient, fits a bit better than corn. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/12 "2010-10-13T03:21:54Z")
I just made some a few days ago! In mine went: - beef stock, homemade, out of the freezer. - leeks, because leeks are better than onions in soup. WAY better. - carrots, because Mr. Athena loooooves carrots. - leftover pot roast from a few days previous. - leftover parsnips and potatoes from pot roast. - leftover juicy goodness from pot roast. - kale, because kale in soup is yummy. - a can of white beans, because I wanted something starchy and there were only a couple leftover potatoes. The other option was barley but bean sounded better this time. - A can of diced tomatoes, for the acidity. - NO celery. Yuk. I don’t like celery in soup. I think that’s it, but I may remember more. I pretty much do what **Ruby** said and just used what I had in the fridge, though I did go out and buy kale especially for it because it’s just that good. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/13 "2010-10-13T03:33:22Z")
All of the above except corn and lima beans. Actually, peas are optional (fine with or without). ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/14 "2010-10-13T03:51:03Z")
I just made some myself! Homemade vegetable stock onions carrots celery the above three vegetables being the classic mirepoix green beans turnips rutabagas parsnips kale potatoes zucchini [Rancho Gordo](http://www.ranchogordo.com/) Ayocote Morado (purple runner) beans yellow squash tomatoes garlic and herbs: parsley marjoram oregano thyme rosemary savory ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/15 "2010-10-13T03:52:43Z")
Virtually anything in mine, except brocolli (too bitter) or squash/zucchini (too mushy, in my opinion.) The whole point of veggie beef stew is to use up the bits and dabs of leftover vegetables in the refrigerator, right? But my family would riot if the first five ingredients, plus corn, weren’t somehow involved in making this type of soup. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/16 "2010-10-13T03:56:19Z")
I’ll add that if I want to make my veggie soup NOT vegetarian, I’ll sauté up and add some sliced Italian sausage… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/17 "2010-10-13T05:28:06Z")
I just went with which ones I’d never had in soup, thus not voting for peas or lima beans. I also unvoted celery, but I do like adding it for flavor, but not as a vegetable in it’s own right. It’s more part of the proper seasoning for the beef. Mushy celery tastes bland, which is almost worse than raw celery. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/18 "2010-10-13T05:46:24Z")
It takes _all_ kinds of vegetables. All kinds of vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/19 "2010-10-13T06:21:44Z")
Parsnips, carrots, turnips and onions. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928/20 "2010-10-13T06:53:13Z")
Throw a swede in for those so inclined… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-vegetables-belong-in-a-vegetable-beef-soup/556928.md?page=2)