Description
Hearty German-inspired cabbage soup blends robust ground beef with tender vegetables in a savory broth. Nourishing comfort meets home-style cooking, promising warmth and satisfaction with each spoonful you savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef (lean or extra-lean)
Vegetables:
- ½ head green cabbage, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth for a lighter flavor)
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Initiate by browning ground beef in a spacious pot over medium-high heat, methodically breaking it into delicate crumbles while ensuring complete cooking.
- Eliminate excess fat, then introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until they release their aromatic essence and transform into a translucent foundation.
- Incorporate shredded cabbage, diced carrots, and sliced celery, allowing these robust vegetables to soften and meld together, creating a textural landscape.
- Pour in diced tomatoes with their vibrant juices, rich tomato paste, hearty beef broth, and complementary water, stirring thoroughly to harmonize the emerging flavor profile.
- Elevate the soup’s complexity by sprinkling thyme, basil, smoky paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, creating a symphonic blend of herbaceous and warming notes.
- Trigger a brief boiling moment, then reduce to a gentle simmer, covering the pot to allow ingredients to tenderize and intermingle their essences for approximately 30 minutes.
- Conduct a final seasoning assessment, adjusting flavors as needed, and ladle the steaming soup into waiting bowls, optionally adorning with feathery fresh parsley for a verdant finish.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a lighter soup.
- Chop vegetables uniformly for consistent cooking and better texture throughout the dish.
- Consider adding a splash of red wine during beef browning to enhance overall flavor complexity.
- Easily transform this recipe into a low-carb meal by replacing regular carrots with lower-carb alternatives like zucchini or turnips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg