Description
Hearty Polish bigos soup blends savory cabbage, robust sausage, and comforting potatoes in a classic one-pot meal. Simmering ingredients create a rich, warming dish that connects you to traditional Eastern European comfort cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced
- 6 cups chicken broth (or beef broth for a richer flavor)
- 4 cups cabbage, chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, diced (Yukon gold or red potatoes)
- 1 (14.5 oz/411 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Sauté Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, brown sausage slices until golden, then remove and set aside.
- Build Flavor Base: In the same pot, sauté onions until translucent, add garlic and briefly toast to release aromatic oils.
- Combine Ingredients: Layer chopped cabbage, cubed potatoes, diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf into the pot.
- Create Liquid Foundation: Pour chicken broth over vegetables, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
- Marry Flavors: Cover and cook until potatoes become fork-tender, approximately 20-25 minutes, then return sausage to the pot and allow flavors to meld for an additional 5 minutes.
- Finalize and Serve: Remove bay leaf, adjust seasonings to taste, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve piping hot alongside crusty bread for a hearty, soul-warming meal.
Notes
- Manage Sausage Browning: Achieve a perfect golden-brown crust by avoiding overcrowding the pan, which prevents proper caramelization and ensures maximum flavor development.
- Prevent Vegetable Mushiness: Cut cabbage and potatoes into uniform chunks to guarantee even cooking and maintain ideal texture throughout the soup.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast spices briefly before adding liquid to intensify their aromatic qualities and release more complex taste profiles in the dish.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Swap pork sausage with chicken or plant-based alternatives, and use gluten-free broth to accommodate different dietary restrictions while maintaining the soup’s hearty character.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg