Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

This Cabbage Soup is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh cabbage! It’s incredibly flavorful, packed with healthy veggies, and perfect for lunch or dinner.

Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

I never thought I would be singing the praises of a soup made with cabbage, but this cabbage soup is crave-worthy. When I was testing this recipe, it immediately became one of our favorite soups, right along with our most-loved Vegetable Soup and this hearty Lentil Soup.

In this easy soup recipe, a few simple seasonings and lots of healthy vegetables come together to make a soup that’s incredibly flavorful and nutritious. After it simmers on the stove, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is the perfect finishing touch and really brightens up the flavors. We’ve been making this recipe on repeat because it’s just so good.

This cabbage soup comes together quickly and smells so delicious as it simmers on the stove. I like to serve it with some crusty bread for dunking, or homemade Garlic Knots if I’m in a baking mood. The best part about this hearty soup is that it becomes even more flavorful after a day or two in the fridge, as the flavors meld together. The leftovers reheat wonderfully and are perfect for lunches later in the week.

Cabbage Soup Recipe Ingredients

This cabbage soup recipe calls for simple ingredients that combine to make the best cabbage soup!

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  • Olive Oil: The vegetables are sautéed in a generous amount of olive oil, which adds flavor and richness to this healthy soup.
  • Onion, Celery & Carrots: This trio of vegetables is used as the base of many soup recipes. The onion, carrots and celery bring lots of flavor.
  • Garlic: There’s no substitute for the flavor of fresh garlic!
  • Green Cabbage: Fresh green cabbage is first sautéed to develop its flavor, and then simmered in the soup until tender.
  • Seasonings: Dried thyme, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper are a delicious combination of seasonings that gives this cabbage soup the best flavor. It’s a little smoky, savory, and all around delicious!
  • Diced Tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes are an easy way to add more flavor.
  • Vegetable Broth: I recommend using low sodium vegetable broth so that you can better control the amount of salt in the soup.
  • White Beans: To add some filling protein and make the soup heartier. Cannellini beans or small white beans work well, or feel free to use chickpeas.
  • Lemon Juice: I highly recommend adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the soup after it cooks. It really makes the flavors pop!

How to Make Cabbage Soup

A few simple steps make all the difference in making the most flavorful cabbage soup. Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

  1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot. Then add the onion, celery and carrot to the pot and sauté until the vegetables soften. Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (3)
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the cabbage. Wash it and then cut it into quarters and slice out the core. Chop the cabbage into pieces that are about 1/2-inch by 2-inches in size. See my Coleslaw Recipe for photos that show how to core cabbage.
  3. Add the cabbage, garlic and seasonings to the pot. Then cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes. This step of sautéing the cabbage with the seasonings adds so much flavor to the soup. Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (4)
  4. Next, stir in the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and white beans. Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (5)
  5. Cover the pot and simmer the soup for 20-25 minutes, until the veggies are tender.
  6. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Taste the soup and season it with more salt and pepper, if needed. Then serve and enjoy!

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What to Serve with Cabbage Soup

Enjoy this cabbage soup with a Green Salad or Kale Salad and some crusty bread, Dinner Rolls or Cornbread.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat soup in a pot on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or in the microwave.

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More Vegetable Soup Recipes

If you love this cabbage soup recipe, you might also enjoy these easy soup recipes:

  • Cauliflower Soup
  • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
  • Tomato Soup
  • Carrot Ginger Soup
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Crockpot Potato Soup
  • Vegetable Soup
  • Minestrone Soup
  • Split Pea Soup

Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (8)

4.50 from 4 ratings

Cabbage Soup

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

This Cabbage Soup is healthy and full of flavor! Cabbage, veggies, beans and a delicious combination of seasonings make this cabbage soup the best. It's one of our favorite vegetarian soup recipes, perfect for lunch or dinner.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ large green cabbage, or 1 small cabbage
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes, with their juices
  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 15 ounce can white beans, or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, celery and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, wash, dry, and core the cabbage. Slice the cabbage into pieces that are approximately ½ inch by 2 inches.

  • Add the garlic, cabbage, dried thyme, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes.

  • Add the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and white beans. Stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

  • Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve.

Notes

  • Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 1062mg, Potassium: 729mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 4040IU, Vitamin C: 39mg, Calcium: 129mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course, Soup

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

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Best Cabbage Soup Recipe (So Flavorful!) - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What's the best seasoning for cabbage soup? ›

Cabbage Soup Ingredients

Mirepoix Vegetables: Chop up white onion, celery, and carrot for a nourishing veggie base. Garlic: Two cloves are great, but if you're like me and love garlic, feel free to add a little more! Herbs: A combo of dried oregano, basil, and fresh parsley for herbal goodness.

Why does my cabbage soup taste so bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How much weight can you lose on the 7 day cabbage soup diet? ›

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.

Does cabbage soup burn belly fat? ›

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.

How to make soup really flavorful? ›

Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.

What gives soup more flavor? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

How do you fix bland cabbage soup? ›

I always find it difficult to season a soup after it's been made, I usually try to add no sodium type flavors in the very beginning – you might try beginning with a bit of olive oil in the pan and adding just a few red pepper flakes, let cook a minute, then add onions until translucent, during this time, add pepper, ...

Why does my stomach hurt after eating cabbage soup? ›

“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.

What is the Dolly Parton diet? ›

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.

What can't you eat on the cabbage soup diet? ›

The cabbage soup diet allows you to eat all of the cabbage soup you like in addition to adding certain foods on specific days throughout the week. No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, including diet sodas.

How to lose 10 pounds in a week? ›

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.

Is too much cabbage soup bad for you? ›

Negative health effects of the cabbage soup diet

Excess sodium intake – if you make the soup using canned vegetable juice. Inadequate caloric intake – it's likely that you'll suffer from weakness, fatigue, and dizziness, meaning you won't be able to exercise properly for the week.

How many times a day should I eat cabbage soup? ›

Just like the name says, the bulk of this diet is fat-free cabbage soup, eaten two to three times a day with other allowed foods assigned each day. Here's what you can add: Day 1: Fruit, except bananas. Day 2: Vegetables like leafy greens (not starchy), but no fruit.

Can you drink coffee on the cabbage soup diet? ›

While there are no strict portion limits for the cabbage soup itself, you should listen to your body's hunger cues and eat until you are satisfied but not overly full. You should also remember to drink plenty of water and moderate amounts of herbal tea and black coffee to stay hydrated throughout the day.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

Some of our favorites are Dried Shallots, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Dehydrated Green Bell Pepper, Tomato Flakes, Minced Onion and Roasted Garlic Flakes.

What are good seasonings to put in soup? ›

Best Herbs for Vegetable Soup
  • Basil – Often used with oregano, basil is a common ingredient and a staple herb in many soups. ...
  • Oregano – Earthy and fresh, oregano is a staple in many soups, especially tomato based or Italian inspired soups.
  • Parsley – Dried parsley is usually recommended in soups for its consistency.
Jul 11, 2023

How do you reduce bitterness in cabbage soup? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient. Mix in a pinch of baking soda before the dish is done to fix that.

What adds flavor to bland soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

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