Hearty Vegetable Soup with Hamburger - The Local Palate

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
• 2 medium onions, cut into ¼-inch dice
• Table salt
• Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch dice
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 (14-ounce) can corn kernels, drained and rinsed, or kernels from 2 ears of fresh corn (2 cups)
• 1 (14-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their juices
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• Freshly ground black pepper