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The Ultimate Comfort Cabbage Soup: Easy Weeknight Recipe & Diet Variations

A close-up of a white bowl filled with rich, reddish broth, chunks of cabbage, carrots, and ground beef, representing delicious cabbage soup.
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Make this easy and comforting cabbage soup for a healthy weeknight dinner. This recipe honors classic American home cooking and includes simple steps to adapt it for a hearty Cabbage Roll Soup style or a low-calorie diet version.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (optional, for hearty version)
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 head green cabbage (about 6 cups), chopped
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
  • 6 cups low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. If using ground beef, add it now and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and bell pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the chopped cabbage. Cook for 5 minutes until it starts to wilt slightly.
  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth. Add the basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. If making the hearty version, add Worcestershire sauce now.
  5. Bring the soup to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Add the bay leaf.
  6. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer gently for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, allowing the flavors to blend.
  7. Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

  • For a Cabbage Roll Soup style, use ground beef and add 1 cup of cooked brown rice during the last 15 minutes of simmering.
  • For a Low Calorie/Diet Soup variation, omit the ground beef entirely and use vegetable broth. You can also add extra low-starch vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini.
  • To make this a Vegetarian Cabbage Soup, use vegetable broth and omit the ground beef. For added protein, stir in one 15-ounce can of rinsed and drained kidney beans during the last 10 minutes.
  • This soup freezes well. Cool completely before transferring to airtight containers for meal prepping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycommand.com/easy-cabbage-soup-recipe-and-variations/