Description
Hearty Polish cabbage soup whisks home cooks straight to Warsaw’s winter kitchens with its rich, warming broth. Packed with tender vegetables and savory herbs, this soul-satisfying recipe offers pure comfort that connects families around steaming bowls of deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Hearty Cabbage Beef Soup
Main Protein and Vegetables:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 cups chopped green cabbage
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, quartered and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Seasoning Base:
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 cans (8 ounces/240 milliliters each) tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Grains:
- 1/2 cup white rice, uncooked
Cooking Ingredient:
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Introduce beef chunks, seasoning generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, searing until golden brown and caramelized.
- Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Fold in shredded cabbage, sliced carrots, tangy tomato sauce, and rich beef broth, creating a robust base.
- Sprinkle uncooked rice into the simmering mixture, then introduce bay leaf and a touch of brown sugar for depth of flavor.
- Reduce heat and allow the soup to gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for approximately 25 minutes until rice becomes tender and vegetables are perfectly cooked.
- Carefully remove the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones.
- Ladle the hearty soup into warm bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Swap rice with cauliflower rice for a low-carb version that keeps the soup’s hearty texture while reducing calories.
- Balance flavors by adjusting brown sugar quantity based on tomato sauce’s natural sweetness to prevent overwhelming savory notes.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra lean ground beef or using a blend of ground beef and turkey for lighter protein profile.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent cooking and create a more visually appealing soup with balanced texture and bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 199 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 263 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg