Classic Cabbage Soup (Printable Version)

Tender cabbage and vegetables in a savory tomato broth—comforting, nutritious, and quick to prepare.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head green cabbage, cored and chopped (about 6 cups)
02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Tomato Base

06 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Broth & Seasoning

08 - 6 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

# Method:

01 - Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add a splash of oil, then sauté the onion, carrot, and celery for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the chopped cabbage, stir well, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until it begins to wilt.
04 - Mix in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
05 - Add diced tomatoes with juice, vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, smoked paprika if using, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
06 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the cabbage and vegetables are tender.
07 - Discard the bay leaf and adjust seasoning if needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It uses ingredients you probably already have sitting in your crisper drawer.
  • The whole thing cooks in one pot, so cleanup is a breeze.
  • It tastes even better the next day, which means leftovers are actually exciting.
  • You can throw in whatever vegetables need using up and it still works.
02 -
  • Dont skip the step where you cook the tomato paste for a minute, it makes a huge difference in flavor.
  • If your cabbage is old or tough, add an extra five minutes to the simmer time.
  • Taste the soup before serving because different broths have different salt levels.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife to chop the cabbage, it makes the job faster and safer.
  • If you want a smokier flavor, add a pinch of smoked salt along with the paprika.
  • Dont cover the pot too tightly while simmering, a little steam should escape to keep the soup from getting mushy.
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