Easy Keto Vegetable Beef Soup (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Craving something hearty and warming that doesn’t take a lot of prep time? Learn how to make this easy keto vegetable beef soup, based on a classic Filipino recipe. 

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I live in a small town in Connecticut. There aren’t many dining out options in the town of only 4,000 here. The most ethnic restaurant by me is a Chinese restaurant. Michelin-star-rated it is not.

So when I want to taste a recipe that comes from half a world away, do I hop in my car for an hour-plus drive? Nope. I make it myself!

When I’m in the mood for something hearty and warm, I turn to the classic Filipino standard, Nilagang Baka, which is an easy vegetable beef soup.

Basically, this is boiled beef and vegetable soup. It’s very similar to a soup my father makes, but he uses potatoes and regular cabbage.

The reason this recipe and others like it around Southeast Asia are popular… It’s a collection of the basic ingredients which were available to the peasant class.

But, when you make this for your family or guests, they will think they’re being treated like royalty.

Ingredients Needed For Keto Vegetable Beef Soup

Some of the ingredients in this recipe might be a little bit more difficult to find. I encourage you to shop at an Asian or international grocery store. You’ll be more likely to find authentic produce and vegetables there.

Vegetables

Keep in mind that the traditional recipe in the Philippines calls for potatoes. However, considering potatoes are a high-starch veggie, I used my favorite standby: radishes. 

And, I added in some small Asian eggplant, napa cabbage, and a small onion.

Beef

For the beef, you can use your favorite steak or cut, but I think beef shank tastes the best.

Before getting on to this easy vegetable beef soup recipe, a quick word on meat quality… Some people actually prefer grain-fed red meat for the marbling and fat texture. But, I prefer grass-finished beef, which tastes more like meat from the wild.

To begin, wash the beef with cold running water. Do you have to do that if it’s organic? It has nothing to do with making the meat safer by washing it like you would fruit or vegetables. Rather, washing the beef makes it more tender. So yes! Wash even organic meat for this recipe.

Broth

I prefer beef bone broth in this easy vegetable beef soup because of the benefits that come from the collagen protein.

Spices

Add more or less spices to make it taste exactly how you want. I used a combination of garlic powder, ground black pepper, and Himalayan pink salt.

Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low-carb recipe.

Quick Tips:

• Make this recipe at night and let it sit at the high setting while you sleep.
• Cut beef into bite sized pieces to cook faster.
• Look for beef shank with marbling bone marrow which adds flavor to the soup.

How To Make Low Carb Vegetable Beef Soup

All of the exact steps are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. First, here is a quick overview of how to make this savory soup.

Prepare The Meat

Pat the meat dry with paper towels and season it with garlic, black pepper, and salt. You’ll want to let the beef sit for about a half-hour. (If it’s especially hot inside, you can place it in the fridge.)

Place The Food In The Slow Cooker

Don’t have a slow cooker? You can order one online and have it delivered to you within a day or two. I prefer this multi-pot cooker because you can also make yogurt with it as well as pressure cook meals.

At the bottom of the slow cooker, you’ll place half of the small chopped onion. (Sorry if you don’t like onion, but it’s a must-have for this Filipino dish; you can always leave it out or substitute it with another low starch veggie.)

Add two slices of beef to the slow cooker. Top the beef with the rest of the onions.

Next, add the remaining slabs of beef and top with the extra 6 cups of beef broth.

Add The Vegetables

Now, about an hour before it’s ready, you’ll want to start adding in some of the veggies.

Begin with the radishes. I usually put them in about 30-60 minutes before I turn off the slow cooker. It’s up to you to determine how soft/chewy you want the veggies.

I’ll usually add in the eggplant and Napa cabbage for about 15-20 minutes before turning off the slow cooker.

What To Serve With Keto Vegetable Beef Soup

I like to eat this Filipino classic stew with a side of ensaladang talong (aka Filipino eggplant salad).

Is this some random thing I’ve come up with, eating roasted eggplant with beef veggie soup?

No, the eggplant is also a traditional Filipino dish. It’s actually more of a salad. The most practical way to make the eggplant in the U.S. is to broil it in the oven. (In the Philippines, it’s made by roasting over charcoal.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Veggie Beef Soup

Before I get to the recipe card, just a little further below, here are some questions people often ask about this savory soup.

What is a low-carb replacement for rice noodles?

Obviously, in traditional Southeast Asian cooking, noodles and rice are staples. However, what can you add to this recipe if you’re watching your net carbs?

You can use any no carb / low carb noodle alternative. My favorite for this dish is cauliflower rice.

And, if you’re lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, they now sell frozen bags of it that’s super easy to make. Other major brands are catching on, so you may find it in regular grocery stores too.

Is this slow cooker beef soup healthy?

Yes, this soup is a fantastic source of nutrients that are not just tasty but good for your body too.

This blood-warming, brothy goodness is packed with potassium, protein, iron, vitamin C and has a decent amount of protein. And, if you use beef bone broth, you’ll be consuming an abundant amount of amino acids that provide the building blocks to repair your body’s collagen protein.

How do you store leftover soup?

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

I really hope you enjoy this low-carb version of a classic soup from the Philippines! Let me know how it turns out for you.

We hope you give this soup a try. And if you do, we’d love to know what you think in the comments.

More Low-Carb Soup Recipes

If you enjoyed this keto vegetable beef soup, here are some more low-carb soup recipes you should try next. They are some of my favorites!

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First published on September 20, 2018. Updated on September 14, 2021, with new images and additional recipe information.