Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup

October 5, 2020 Modified January 2, 2023 By Nicole Charles 34 Comments
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This delicious Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup is made with ground beef, creamy coconut milk, white sweet potatoes, fresh thyme and cilantro. It’s AIP, paleo and Whole30 compliant.

Two white bowls on a light background filled with yellow coloured soup with dumplings, white sweet potato, chopped carrots and ground beef with a spoon, an orange cloth napkin and stems of cilantro

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Soup on a Sunday is a tradition I grew up with in the Caribbean. To me, a hearty bowl of soup complete with carbohydrates, proteins and veggies is the ultimate comfort food – year round! When I share with my North American friends that we ate soup weekly in Trinidad, people often express surprise because it’s a tropical climate. To that I respond: “Did you know that eating hot food when it’s hot outside can actually assist in regulating body temperature and cooling the body down?⁣”

I can eat this Caribbean-inspired Beef soup any day, though it’s especially welcomed as we transition into Fall. It’s made with ground beef, creamy coconut milk, white-fleshed sweet potatoes, and a medley of fresh herbs vegetables.

The dumplings are optional here and you should omit them if you’re Whole30. These dumplings were my favourite part of Caribbean soups and stews growing up. They’re not round or flat, nor are they stuffed. Instead, they are long, dense and tapered and known as “spinners and sinkers” in many Caribbean countries. This is because they sink and spin when they cook within broths and soups. Just describing them makes me crave them.

Two white bowls on a light background filled with yellow coloured soup with dumplings, white sweet potato, chopped carrots and ground beef.

Here’s what you need for this Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup:

White-fleshed sweet potatoes: These have a red skin with a white/yellowish inside. Their texture is a bit starchier and more crumbly than the orange sweet potatoes.
Ground Beef
Full fat, additive free coconut milk
Celery, onions, carrots and garlic – these make a mirepoix base of the soup
Fresh cilantro and thyme. These are the central flavors in this soup, you don’t want to skip these if you’re going for that Caribbean flare
Dried oregano
Beef or Chicken broth or stock – ensure ingredients are AIP compliant
For the dumplings (optional – omit for Whole30) you’ll need cassava flour, coconut flour, salt and water.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a different variety of sweet potato?

Yes, you can sub orange-fleshed sweet potatoes for white or Japanese sweet potatoes in this soup. Check out this post for info on some of my most commonly used AIP compliant Caribbean ingredients.

Can I make this soup coconut-free?

Coconut adds a characteristic flavor to this Caribbean Beef Soup. That said, if you can’t tolerate coconut you could try subbing with more chicken bone broth. For the dumplings, you can try subbing tapioca starch for the coconut flour.

What can I use in place of cilantro?

If you aren’t a cilantro lover this may not be the soup for you ?. I haven’t tried another substitution here, but suspect basil could work for a totally different flavor profile.

Can I make this soup in the Instant Pot or Slow cooker?

Yes, you’ll just want to ensure you use the sauté function first to combine the beef with the carrots, onions, garlic, celery, herbs and salt before adding the remaining ingredients.

Liked this Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup? Try these other Caribbean-inspired AIP recipes:

If you try this Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup I would love if you gave it a star rating and short review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious