Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe
Intro:
If you love the comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls but want a quicker, one-pot meal, this Cabbage Roll Soup is for you! It has all the hearty ingredients of a classic cabbage roll—ground beef, tender cabbage, tomatoes, and rice—combined into a cozy and flavorful soup. It’s perfect for cold evenings and easy enough for a weeknight dinner. This recipe delivers all the satisfaction without the time-consuming wrapping, and the best part is, it tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground pork/turkey)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups green cabbage, chopped
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 can (14.5 oz) tomato sauce
- 4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup uncooked rice (white or brown)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Brown the Beef:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Once browned, drain any excess fat.
- Sauté the Vegetables:
- Add the diced onion and garlic to the pot with the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Add Cabbage and Seasonings:
- Stir in the chopped cabbage, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, allowing the cabbage to soften slightly.
- Add Liquids and Simmer:
- Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), tomato sauce, beef broth, and uncooked rice. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer:
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the cabbage is fully cooked. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Season and Serve:
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or Worcestershire sauce, if needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Outro:
This Cabbage Roll Soup is the perfect way to enjoy all the flavors of classic cabbage rolls with a fraction of the effort. It’s hearty, healthy, and full of rich flavors that develop even further after resting in the fridge. Make a big batch and enjoy leftovers for days—each bowl will warm your heart and keep you coming back for more!