Cabbage, the Rodney Dangerfield of vegetables. It just can't seem to "get no respect"!
While under-appreciated, cabbage really is a wonder vegetable. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, it can easily keep a month or two in the fridge, and it is endlessly versatile in recipes. Whether raw in a coleslaw, blanched with butter, stuffed and wrapped, or made into a simple and delicious cabbage soup as we do here, cabbage is a work horse.
Simple Ingredients for Simple Cabbage Soup
Have you ever looked in your fridge and the only vegetable in good shape looking back at you is a single head of cabbage? Cabbage is like that; it can outlast almost any other vegetable. Now even if all you have in your fridge is some cabbage, there are only a few more pantry ingredients you need to make this easy, nourishing, and light cabbage soup.
To make this simple cabbage soup you only need fresh cabbage, onions, canned tomatoes, chicken stock, and a few spices.
Of course with so few ingredients the quality of the soup relies on the quality of your ingredients. Homemade chicken stock is the best (we'll also use Better than Bouillon in a pinch), and a good quality canned tomatoes makes all the difference (we use Muir Glen).
Ways to Adapt This Recipe
Want a little more oomph with your soup? You can easily add other vegetables, like chopped carrots with the onions, or sliced kale with the cabbage, or even bacon or sausage (cook gently before adding the onions), if you want a meatier version.
What to Serve With Cabbage Soup
Serve this soup with some rye bread or garlic knots for sopping up all the broth. You can also serve this soup as a side dish with roast chicken, pork chops, or roast beef.
Storing and Freezing
This soup will keep in the fridge for about five days and can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. You can also freeze the soup for up to three months.
Love Cabbage? Try These Other Great Recipes!
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Sweet and Sour German Red Cabbage
Pork Chops with Braised Cabbage
How Our Readers Make This Recipe Their Own
Andy Y: "I am not a big fan of tomato flavor, so I substituted an equal amount of mild green chili salsa. I also added chicken to make it a meal. I cooked 3 chicken breasts in the soup while it was cooking. When everything was cooked, I took out the chicken and shredded it. Delicious soup!"
Corrie: "I add 8 slices of half-cooked chopped up bacon and it’s even more amazing!"
Mark: "We'll add garbanzos sometimes, and we've used shaved brussels sprouts instead of cabbage."
Barbara: "I did a bit of improvising with what I have on hand. Vegetable broth added color and flavor as did stewed tomatoes. I also threw in some leftover country ribs that I cut up and two tired potatoes!"
1 small or 1/2 large green cabbage, sliced 1/4-inch (4 to 5 cups)
1/2 to 1teaspoonsalt (more or less depending on the saltiness of your stock)
1 (15-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
4cupschicken stock
Freshly ground black pepper
Method
Grind the spices (if using whole spices):
If using whole spices (coriander, fennel, cumin), grind them in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder until well ground.
Sauté the onions and spices:
Heat olive oil and butter in a 4-quart, thick bottomed pot on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and stir in the ground spices. Cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the cabbage and tomatoes:
Add the sliced cabbage to the pot and stir to mix the cabbage with the onions. If you are using unsalted stock, sprinkle the cabbage with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the canned whole tomatoes, with their juices, to the pot. Stir to combine.
Add the stock, simmer till done:
Add the chicken stock to the pot. Bring to a simmer and taste for salt. Add more salt to taste. Lower the heat and cover the pot.
Let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cabbage is thoroughly cooked, breaking up tomatoes that are still whole.
Serve:
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper to serve.
Budget Dinners
Easy Soups
Cabbage
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
179
Calories
6g
Fat
24g
Carbs
9g
Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories
179
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g
8%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Cholesterol 10mg
3%
Sodium 567mg
25%
Total Carbohydrate 24g
9%
Dietary Fiber 5g
18%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 78mg
391%
Calcium 127mg
10%
Iron 1mg
8%
Potassium 767mg
16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is a short-term weight loss diet. Proponents of the diet say that it can help you lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in a single week, but many health experts warn that the diet does not promote health and wellness, and results are unsustainable.
The cabbage soup diet has been used as a rapid weight-loss plan for decades. And while following it will likely result in weight loss, the results may be fleeting, and participants may not experience a significant reduction in fat mass and body fat percentage like they might with a gradual weight-loss program.
The most common reason your soup doesn't taste that great is because it's missing a brightening element. Soup can be heavy, creamy, and rich (that's why we love it so much). But too much richness tastes flat. Almost every bowl of soup can benefit from a zippy and fresh addition.
For this reason, it is no surprise that gas, bloating and abdominal pain are common reported side effects of the Cabbage Soup Diet. Symptoms vary in severity and frequency, depending upon how much cabbage soup you consume and your sensitivity to gas-causing substances in cabbage.
You may have heard of something called the Dolly Parton Diet — which consists of eating cabbage soup (yes, cabbage soup!) as your main meals along with fruit and vegetables. It's also known as the TWA Stewardess Diet and, well, the Cabbage Soup Diet.
It will likely leave you feeling hungry, weak, and bored. You might even feel sick. And if you follow the Cabbage Soup Diet for more than a week, you could run short on key nutrients. Nor does the diet encourage the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be healthier and have lasting weight loss.
To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.
DRINKS: Stick with water, unsweet tea, black coffee, unsweetened juices, cranberry juice, or skim milk. Black coffee is permitted, but you may find that you no longer need the caffeine after the third day.
While cabbage offers lots of vitamins and minerals your body needs, there can be a downside to eating cabbage. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. It's best to slowly introduce these vegetables into your diet and gradually increase your intake.
Cabbage is rich in water and fibre, which helps in keeping the intestines healthy. By consuming cabbage, the stomach feels full for a long time. This reduces appetite so that you can avoid overeating. The fibre in cabbage removes constipation and accelerates metabolism, which helps in weight loss.
“Additionally, cruciferous vegetables—like cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts—contain raffinose, an indigestible sugar. As it's fermented by bacteria in the gut, gas is produced, which is why you may experience flatulence and discomfort after eating these foods.
Cabbage soup contains ground beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, beef broth, rice, a variety of spices, and, of course, cabbage! Can you overcook cabbage in soup? Yes!Once cabbage is overcooked, it will not have a pleasant smell.
This diet is designed to be followed for a maximum of seven days and should not be considered a long-term eating plan. It consists of homemade cabbage soup, along with specified low-calorie foods such as fruit, vegetables and skimmed milk.
No fruit, corn, beans, or peas. One russet or sweet potato baked with butter or oil is allowed. Breakfast: You can begin the day with the baked potato. Dice the potato into cubes, sprinkle it with some cinnamon and olive oil, then roast in the oven with onions and bell pepper.
Cabbage does double detox duty. Its diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it. Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled.
Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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