Cabbage, the Rodney Dangerfield of vegetables. It just can't seem to "get no respect"!
While under-appreciated, cabbage really is a wonder vegetable. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, it can easily keep a month or two in the fridge, and it is endlessly versatile in recipes. Whether raw in a coleslaw, blanched with butter, stuffed and wrapped, or made into a simple and delicious cabbage soup as we do here, cabbage is a work horse.
Simple Ingredients for Simple Cabbage Soup
Have you ever looked in your fridge and the only vegetable in good shape looking back at you is a single head of cabbage? Cabbage is like that; it can outlast almost any other vegetable. Now even if all you have in your fridge is some cabbage, there are only a few more pantry ingredients you need to make this easy, nourishing, and light cabbage soup.
To make this simple cabbage soup you only need fresh cabbage, onions, canned tomatoes, chicken stock, and a few spices.
Of course with so few ingredients the quality of the soup relies on the quality of your ingredients. Homemade chicken stock is the best (we'll also use Better than Bouillon in a pinch), and a good quality canned tomatoes makes all the difference (we use Muir Glen).
Ways to Adapt This Recipe
Want a little more oomph with your soup? You can easily add other vegetables, like chopped carrots with the onions, or sliced kale with the cabbage, or even bacon or sausage (cook gently before adding the onions), if you want a meatier version.
What to Serve With Cabbage Soup
Serve this soup with some rye bread or garlic knots for sopping up all the broth. You can also serve this soup as a side dish with roast chicken, pork chops, or roast beef.
Storing and Freezing
This soup will keep in the fridge for about five days and can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. You can also freeze the soup for up to three months.
Love Cabbage? Try These Other Great Recipes!
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Sweet and Sour German Red Cabbage
Pork Chops with Braised Cabbage
How Our Readers Make This Recipe Their Own
Andy Y: "I am not a big fan of tomato flavor, so I substituted an equal amount of mild green chili salsa. I also added chicken to make it a meal. I cooked 3 chicken breasts in the soup while it was cooking. When everything was cooked, I took out the chicken and shredded it. Delicious soup!"
Corrie: "I add 8 slices of half-cooked chopped up bacon and it’s even more amazing!"
Mark: "We'll add garbanzos sometimes, and we've used shaved brussels sprouts instead of cabbage."
Barbara: "I did a bit of improvising with what I have on hand. Vegetable broth added color and flavor as did stewed tomatoes. I also threw in some leftover country ribs that I cut up and two tired potatoes!"
If using whole spices (coriander, fennel, cumin), grind them in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder until well ground.
Sauté the onions and spices:
Heat olive oil and butter in a 4-quart, thick bottomed pot on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and stir in the ground spices. Cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the cabbage and tomatoes:
Add the sliced cabbage to the pot and stir to mix the cabbage with the onions. If you are using unsalted stock, sprinkle the cabbage with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the canned whole tomatoes, with their juices, to the pot. Stir to combine.
Add the stock, simmer till done:
Add the chicken stock to the pot. Bring to a simmer and taste for salt. Add more salt to taste. Lower the heat and cover the pot.
Let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cabbage is thoroughly cooked, breaking up tomatoes that are still whole.
Serve:
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper to serve.
Budget Dinners
Easy Soups
Cabbage
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
179
Calories
6g
Fat
24g
Carbs
9g
Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories
179
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g
8%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Cholesterol 10mg
3%
Sodium 567mg
25%
Total Carbohydrate 24g
9%
Dietary Fiber 5g
18%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 78mg
391%
Calcium 127mg
10%
Iron 1mg
8%
Potassium 767mg
16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
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.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the cabbage soup diet is safe or effective for weight loss. No health authorities recommend following the diet. Proponents of the cabbage soup diet also encourage people not to exercise while following it.
Most variations of this diet suggest that people eat this soup two to three times a day, although some variations enable the participants to consume even more of the soup. The cabbage soup used in this diet combines ingredients like broth, nonstarchy vegetables, pepper, herbs and, of course, cabbage.
Typical soup diets are fad diets that are not backed by science. They may have health risks and other drawbacks. Eliminates healthy foods: Experts agree that an all-soup diet would eliminate otherwise healthy food groups, such as fruit and grains, and lead to nutrient deficiencies and imbalances.
Vegetable soup. Lean protein from chicken combined with a variety of vegetables can make a satisfying and low-calorie soup that can help you feel full and satisfied.
For this reason, it is no surprise that gas, bloating and abdominal pain are common reported side effects of the Cabbage Soup Diet. Symptoms vary in severity and frequency, depending upon how much cabbage soup you consume and your sensitivity to gas-causing substances in cabbage.
It will likely leave you feeling hungry, weak, and bored. You might even feel sick. And if you follow the Cabbage Soup Diet for more than a week, you could run short on key nutrients. Nor does the diet encourage the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be healthier and have lasting weight loss.
The diet plan is extremely rigid. Most of the weight lost will likely be water weight. The diet is only meant for short-term weight loss. The diet does not yield long-term results and most dieters will gain the weight back as soon as they stop the diet.
Eat only soup and fruit. Drink unsweetened tea and coffee. (Stick with water, unsweetened fruit juice and cranberry juice, but no diet soda, no carbonated beverages, no alcohol.)
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.
They are high in calories and sugar, so they are not recommended on the cabbage soup diet. High-Fat Foods: Foods rich in saturated fats, such as fried foods, fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, vegetables like avocado, and high-fat sauces or dressings, should be avoided. It is also recommended to avoid eggs.
Throughout the diet, no tea, coffee, or any other beverages are allowed – only water and unsweetened fruit juice on fruit days. While the cabbage soup diet can help you shed weight quickly, most of what you do drop during the diet is water weight, not fat, and will return almost immediately when the week is up.
How does souping work? As often as you like, you simply using healthy soups as meals and snacks as a way to keep calories down as nutrient intake and satisfaction soar. You can enjoy Louisiana gumbo, minestrone from the local Olive Garden, Grandma's chicken noodle, even a can of Campbell's classic tomato.
Pros: Lose weight quickly, no portion control needed, I actually really like the taste of the soup. Cons: The soup is not very filling so it's likely you'll feel hunger and it's likely you'll gain the weight back VERY quickly.
Losing 20 pounds in 1 month may be easier than 2 weeks, but it's still unrealistic for most people. Once again, it comes down to your TDEE and simple math. To lose 20 pounds in 1 month, you'd need to create an average deficit of 2,500 calories per day for 4 weeks.
Broth-based soup diets generally last for 7 days. However, some can last as long as 10–14 days. Over that time, proponents of a broth-based diet claim you can lose up to 10 or even 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg). On a broth-based soup diet, cream-based soups are restricted, as they're higher in calories and fat.
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