Cabbage Soup

Have you tried Cabbage Soup? It’s amazing! Recently, this recipe has become a social media craze, with many people saying that it is perfect for weight loss. This is because cabbage soup will keep you satiated for a long period of time.

When I was young, my mum used to make this all the time. It was one of my favourite recipes to indulge in. She added beef for protein, making it one of the best ways to enjoy cabbage soup. If you haven’t tried this combination, we highly urge you to do so. Here’s another tip: This soup is absolutely delicious with fresh white bread that has been coated with a lot of butter.

Did you know that cabbage soup is widely enjoyed in Eastern Europe? However, due to its nutritional qualities, it has gained traction in the Western parts of the world. Many people have realized how comforting this soup is in the colder seasons. There is a recipe similar to the one from Russia called ‘shchi.’ In South Korea, they have a version called ‘baechu guk.’

The best thing about this soup is that you can make it whenever you want, but it is especially tasty in the autumn and winter. It is full of nutrition, highly affordable, and has a depth of flavour that has become a firm favourite amongst many cultures.

Ingredients

Round cabbage, Carrots, Potato, Onion, Parsley, Tomato, Beef stock cube, Paprika, Dried Thyme, Garlic powder, Black pepper, Salt, Olive oil, Water, Ribeye steak.

Choose fresh cabbage to make this soup. Carrots, potatoes, and onions form the foundation of the recipe, adding a medley of flavors. The carrots and onions caramelize, making the cabbage soup sweeter.

Spices such as Parsley, Garlic powder, Paprika, Beef stock cube, and thyme help to add flavour to the soup. When it comes to the meat, you can use beef chuck, ground beef, ground chicken, chicken breasts, or ribeye steak as protein options. You can also omit these protein options and use lentils for the soup. And, if you would prefer a completely vegetarian option, use a vegetarian stock cube.

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients: Peel the carrots and potato, rinse them in running water, and then cut them into half-inch cubes. Slice the onions thinly and chop up the fresh parsley. Thinly slice the ribeye steak. It’s easier to slice it thinly when it is semi-frozen. Cutting the steak thinly helps to soften the meat.

Gather the spices such as the beef stock cube, paprika, dried thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, salt and water.

Sauté the onions: Preheat a pot on medium-low heat. Drizzle the olive oil and add the sliced onions. Sauté the onions for three minutes and stir occasionally. Add more olive oil if the onions get dried. When the onions are cooked, pour in the can of tomatoes and stir to mix.

Add the vegetables: Add the cubed carrots, potatoes, and sliced cabbage to the pot. Add water and spices like beef stock cube, paprika, dried thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, water, and sliced beef steak. Stir to mix everything. Cook the soup for about twenty-five minutes with the lid closed on low heat. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley to serve.

What to Serve with Cabbage Soup?

Any type of bread harmonizes perfectly with the cabbage soup, whether fresh white bread, crusty bread, or garlic bread. A butter and herb baguette would also be lovely to enjoy the soup with.

How to Store and Reheat Cabbage Soup?

Allow the soup to cool to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator. Transfer the soup to an airtight container to keep it fresh for longer. Another way to keep the cabbage soup is to put the soup pot, with the lid closed, into the refrigerator. The cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

You can also freeze the cabbage soup. Allow the pot to cool down and transfer to an airtight container. You can also divide it into portions and store them in containers so that you can reheat the soup quickly. The soup can be stored frozen for up to three months. 

The most effective way to reheat the refrigerated cabbage soup is to use the microwave. It will take about two minutes on maximum power to fully heat one portion of the soup. If you wish to use the stovetop to reheat the soup, transfer the desired amount to a small pot and reheat on medium-high temperature. If you had the whole pot in the fridge, you could simply reheat the pot on the stovetop.

It is best to use the stovetop to reheat the frozen cabbage soup. There is no need to thaw the soup; simply scoop the desired amount and reheat it in a pot on medium-low heat. Reheating the frozen cabbage soup in the microwave can be done using the same method mentioned above as the fridge-stored soup; however, it requires about four to five minutes to become fully heated.