Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup

**Ingredients:**

– 1 lb (450g) ground beef
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 carrots, diced
– 2 celery stalks, diced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 1 can (14.5 oz/400g) diced tomatoes
– 4 cups beef broth
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
– 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (adjust for spice level)
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Optional toppings: sour cream, chopped green onions, shredded cheese, or fresh cilantro

**Instructions:**

1. **Brown the Ground Beef:**
– In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.

2. **Sauté the Vegetables:**
– Add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and bell pepper to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.

3. **Add Seasonings and Tomatoes:**
– Stir in the cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to toast the spices.
– Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice) and stir to combine.

4. **Simmer the Soup:**
– Pour in the beef broth and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.

5. **Serve:**
– Ladle the soup into bowls and top with your choice of sour cream, chopped green onions, shredded cheese, or fresh cilantro.

This hearty soup is perfect for a comforting meal and can be served with crusty bread or tortilla chips on the side. Enjoy!