Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe

This delicious cabbage soup recipe is simple to prepare and packed with vegetables, a generous amount of cabbage, and the perfect combination of spices. We love it so much that we often find ourselves craving it.

We enjoy making a large batch of this cabbage soup whenever we need a reset or desire a comforting meal that makes us feel good. It is nutritious, full of vegetables, quick to prepare, and tastes amazing.

This recipe is a variation of our popular vegetable soup, but with even more cabbage and a slightly richer broth. Regardless of whether you are seeking a healthy soup recipe or not, this soup is sure to please.

Key Ingredients

• Vegetables: This cabbage soup is packed with a variety of vegetables. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand. We recommend onions, carrots, potatoes, and plenty of cabbage. Use your preferred type of cabbage for this soup. In our photos and video, we used green cabbage. You can also customize it with your favorite seasonal vegetables, such as fresh zucchini or corn in the summer, or heartier root vegetables like parsnips or turnips in the winter.
• Tomato Paste and Tomatoes: These ingredients create a flavorful base for the broth. Tomato paste adds depth of flavor, and if available, canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes can add a subtle smoky taste to the soup.
• Garlic, Italian Seasoning, and Bay Leaf: These ingredients add a delightful aroma to the soup. We prefer using fresh garlic and alternate between Italian seasoning and Herbs de Provence for this recipe, both of which work well.
• Broth: For the best flavor, use your favorite broth. Our homemade vegetable broth is ideal and keeps the soup vegan or vegetarian. Chicken broth or chicken stock are also suitable options. For added protein, bone broth can be used.
• Parsley and Parmesan (optional): These are our favorite finishing touches. Chopped parsley adds a burst of color and flavor, while a generous sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano on top is always delicious. Another option is to add a dollop of basil pesto.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Cabbage Soup

Be prepared to use a significant amount of cabbage in this soup. You will need 8 heaping cups of cabbage, which is approximately a small to medium-sized head. Initially, it may seem like too much, but as the soup simmers, the cabbage will wilt down considerably.

Begin with the onions and carrots. To create a robust base for the soup, sauté the onions and carrots in a soup pot with a little olive oil. Once the onions are translucent and fragrant, you can proceed to add the aromatics. This step takes about 6 minutes.

Enhance the flavor with garlic, tomato paste, and dried herbs. To ensure that the garlic and tomato paste develop their flavors and do not taste raw, allow them to cook in the pot with the olive oil until fragrant. You will know they are ready when the tomato paste darkens from bright red to orange.

Add all remaining ingredients to the pot and simmer. Once the onions are caramelized and the aromatics are fragrant, add the canned tomatoes, broth, potatoes, and cabbage to the pot. Initially, it may seem like an excess of cabbage, but it will cook down as the soup simmers. Trust the process. After 20 minutes of simmering (partially covered with a lid), your delicious homemade cabbage soup will be ready.

Garnish with fresh parsley for added color and flavor. To enhance the soup’s taste, stir in a generous amount of fresh parsley just before serving. It will wilt into the broth, enhance the appearance of the soup, and elevate the flavor. (A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan is also a delightful addition!)

Cabbage Soup Recipe Variations

One of the best things about cabbage soup is its versatility, allowing you to personalize it to your liking. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

• Experiment with different vegetables: Use whatever vegetables you have on hand. Substitute sweet potatoes for regular potatoes, include zucchini in the summer, or try winter vegetables like parsnips, turnips, or celery root. You can also add chopped kale or spinach during the final minutes of cooking.
• Include beans: For additional protein and fiber, mix in a can of drained beans. White beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans are all excellent choices. Lentils can also be a great addition!
• Add protein: Mix in cooked shredded chicken, cooked Italian sausage, browned ground turkey, or diced ham for added protein (similar to ham and cabbage soup).
• Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne, or chopped fresh jalapeño to the garlic and tomato paste at the beginning for a spicy kick.