Hearty Cabbage Soup with Vegetables (Printable)

A warming bowl of tender cabbage and vegetables in savory herb broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head green cabbage, cored and chopped (about 6 cups)
02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced (optional)
07 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juices

→ Broth & Seasonings

08 - 6 cups vegetable broth
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
16 - Lemon wedges (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cabbage, potato (if using), and diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir to combine.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth. Add bay leaf, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It transforms humble ingredients into something that feels like a warm hug
  • The whole pot costs less than a single restaurant takeout meal but feeds you for days
  • Leftovers actually taste better as the flavors meld together overnight
02 -
  • Overcooking cabbage makes it unpleasantly mushy, so start checking for tenderness around the 20 minute mark
  • Smoked paprika is the quiet hero that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is
  • The soup continues absorbing liquid as it sits, so you may need to add more broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • Cutting your vegetables into uniform sizes ensures everything finishes cooking at the same time
  • Finish each bowl with that squeeze of lemon juice because it makes all the flavors sing

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