Ah, cabbage soup—the classic comfort-and-cleanse combo 🥬🍲. Light, hearty, and full of veggies, perfect for cozy dinners or meal prep. Here’s a simple, flavorful version:
🥬 Hearty Cabbage Soup
Ingredients (6–8 servings)
- 1 medium head green cabbage, shredded
- 2 medium carrots, sliced or diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- Salt to taste
- Optional: 1 lb cooked sausage, ground beef, or beans for protein
Directions
- Sauté aromatics
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Cook onion, garlic, carrots, and celery 5–7 minutes until softened.
- Add liquids & seasoning
- Stir in diced tomatoes, broth, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Cook cabbage
- Add shredded cabbage to the pot.
- Simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, until cabbage is tender.
- Optional protein
- If using sausage or ground meat, cook separately and stir in at the end.
- Beans (cannellini or kidney) can also be added for a vegetarian protein boost.
- Finish & serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve hot with crusty bread or over rice for a heartier meal.
Tips & Variations
- Spicy kick: Add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Herb twist: Add parsley or dill at the end for freshness.
- Meal prep: Soup stores beautifully in the fridge for 4–5 days; flavors improve over time.
- Lower-carb: Skip potatoes, or add zucchini for bulk.
If you want, I can give a “loaded comfort-style” cabbage soup version that’s thicker, heartier, and almost like a stew, perfect for cold nights. Do you want that version?
