How to Make Healing Cabbage Soup (Vegan & Gluten)

Name: Easy Healing Cabbage Tomato Soup Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 head cabbage (small) (nappa or savoy); 8 cups veggie stock; 4 Roma tomato (diced); 4 celery stalks (diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 onion (diced); 2 cups strained tomato (canned or jarred); 1/4 cup lemon juice; 2 tbsp Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin); 1 tsp salt

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Our healing cabbage soup is like a hug in a bowl. A perfect lazy vegan recipe for any day of the week. This recipe is cozy, comforting, nourishing, and made in just 1 pot with 10 ingredients. Read on to make this healthy cabbage soup recipe.

Top down view of 3 bowls of easy cabbage soup recipe being served and 1 big pot with a spoon inside

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Healing Cabbage Soup: Easy And Comforting
👪 Why Your Family Will Love This Healthy Cabbage Soup
🥒 Will Picky Eaters Like This?
🧠 Brain & Gut Health: The Magic of Cabbage
⏲️ Time-Saving Tip
🍲Ingredients
💡Top Tip: Getting a Rich Flavourful Soup
👩🏽‍🍳Step-By-Step Instructions: Making Cabbage Soup
🥬 Substitutions & Variations: Make It Your Own
🥡Storage Guide
🤔 FAQs: Healing Cabbage Soup Queries Answered
🥣Make this next…
📖 Recipe
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Healing Cabbage Soup: Easy And Comforting

Do you know why I love soup? Besides being so comforting on winter nights I actually find them super easy to make. This 1-pot easy cabbage soup recipe is a delicious full-flavored soup that is one of my son's absolute favorites.

Actually, my son is the reason this soup even came into existence in our house. Before that, I was not in the habit of making soup! But after eating tomato soup from a local Indian restaurant my son started asking for tomato soup all the time!

The soup we eat at the restaurant was full of cream and sugar (like many of the store-bought versions I found) so I set off to make my own. At first, I just made tomato soup, with lots of garlic and onion to help deepen the flavor. Then one day we decided to grow cabbage in our garden. We had SO much cabbage leftover that I was adding it to everything. And I just so happen to add it to a tomato soup I was making him.

He practically ate the entire pot. So this has become another one of our family's favorite soup recipes! We also love our chickpea vegetable noddle soup or our easy homestyle bean chili! All perfect on those busy weeks when you need a comforting meal.

👪 Why Your Family Will Love This Healthy Cabbage Soup

Delving into a bowl of our healing cabbage soup offers more than just flavors—it's a comforting hug in a bowl. Here's why it's set to be a family favorite:

Wholesome Goodness: Packed with fresh veggies, this soup is a nutrition powerhouse.
Taste Overload: A medley of cabbage, tomato, and spices creates a taste that’s both rich and rejuvenating.
Quick & Easy: Especially with our time-saving tips, this soup can be a hassle-free weeknight dinner.
Adaptable: Easily tweakable for those in the family with specific tastes or dietary requirements.

🥒 Will Picky Eaters Like This?

Navigating the culinary preferences of picky eaters can feel like a tightrope walk. However, this cabbage vegetable soup might just be the safety net you need!

Mild & Welcoming: The soup’s mild flavors, especially with the sweetness of tomato and the depth of cabbage, can appeal to even the most discerning taste buds.
Customizable Toppings: Let them sprinkle their favorite toppings, be it crunchy croutons or a sprinkle of dairy-free cheese.
Interactive Cooking: Get them involved in the prep! Kids are often more inclined to eat what they help create.
Texture Game: With a blend of soft veggies and the option of a little crunch, it keeps every spoonful interesting.

🧠 Brain & Gut Health: The Magic of Cabbage

When we talk about nourishing our bodies, our healing cabbage soup isn’t just about soothing flavors—it also offers profound health benefits, particularly for our brain and digestive system. Let’s delve into why cabbage, a star among cruciferous veggies, should be on your plate:

Digestive System’s Best Friend: Cabbage is loaded with fiber, which aids in smooth digestion and promotes a healthy gut (1). Regular consumption can help alleviate constipation and ensure things move along nicely in our digestive tract.
Cruciferous Power for the Brain: Cruciferous veggies, with cabbage leading the charge, are known to contain antioxidants that support brain health (2). These compounds help combat oxidative stress, potentially warding off age-related cognitive decline.
Rich in Glucosinolates: This natural compound found in cabbage aids in protecting the stomach lining and reducing the risk of stomach ulcers (3, 4). A boon for anyone keen on ensuring their digestive system remains in top-notch condition!

⏲️ Time-Saving Tip

We understand the clock can sometimes feel like it's racing ahead, especially when hungry tummies are waiting. Here are some life-saving hacks to get that healing cabbage soup on the table faster and fuss-free:

Prep Ahead: Chop your veggies (cabbage, celery, onions, tomatoes) the night before or during the weekend, and store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. This way, when it's soup time, you're just dumping and cooking!
Ready-Made Broth: While homemade veggie broth is fabulous, keeping a high-quality store-bought broth on hand can cut down on prep time immensely giving you an easy soup recipe. Remember to choose one with minimal additives!
Frozen Assets: Did you know you can freeze diced onions and celery? By having these prepped and frozen, you shave minutes off your cooking time, making weeknight dinners a breeze.
Batch Cook & Freeze: Make a big batch of this soup during the weekend or on a free evening or add it to your meal prep sundays. See below for storage instructions.
Spice Station: Organize your spices in one easy-to-access spot or even pre-measure them and store in a small container. This ensures you’re not hunting for spices when the pot's bubbling away.
Quick Cleanup: Cook in the same pot from start to finish, minimizing dishes. And if you've got kiddos, get them involved in a fun "clean-as-you-go" game!

🍲Ingredients

Whipping up this healing cabbage soup brings back fond memories of my grandmother's kitchen. Each of these simple ingredients chosen has a special place in my heart, and here’s why:

Cabbage (Nappa or Savoy): This green gem is the star of the show, packed with nutrients and reminiscent of comforting family meals. You will need 1 small head cabbage for this recipe.
Vegetable Stock: My go-to for a rich, deep-flavored base. A must for every vegan soup!
Roma Tomatoes: Sweet and tangy, they add a delightful freshness to the mix.
Celery Stalks: For that mild, earthy crunch we all know and love.
Strained Tomato (canned or jarred): This gives the soup its rich color and velvety texture.
Garlic Cloves: No kitchen adventure is complete without the aromatic allure of minced garlic.
Fresh Onion: The unsung hero, bringing a subtle depth to our soup.
Lemon Juice: A zesty twist, awakening all the other flavors.
Italian Seasoning: For that familiar, heartwarming aroma that fills the kitchen.
Olive Oil (extra virgin): My go-to for sautéing; its subtle fruity notes are everything!
Salt: Just a pinch, to bring out the symphony of flavors.

For full quantities, see the recipe card.

💡Top Tip: Getting a Rich Flavourful Soup

Crafting the ideal healing cabbage soup involves a dance between ingredients and technique. Here are some tips to ensure you create a flavorful, rich healthy soup recipe every time:

Broth Basics: Whether you're brewing your own veggie broth or grabbing one off the shelf, ensure it's of top-notch quality. Remember, a soup's soul lies in its flavorful broth! Look for simple ingredients with no additives or opt for a broth paste. Chicken broth is a great choice if you are not vegan, or mushroom broth helps create rich flavors if you are vegan.
Season Smartly: Due to the volume of liquid, flavors can sometimes retreat to the background. Don't be shy with spices, especially salt. You can also add in black pepper or red pepper flakes for a kick.
Time is Flavor's Best Friend: Letting your soup simmer leisurely, especially on a day when you're not watching the clock, will deepen its flavors. An unhurried simmer always rewards with a rich taste.
Keep the Crunch: To introduce a textural surprise, hold back some cabbage and celery. Add them just a few minutes before you finish cooking. This trick ensures a delightful crunch in every spoonful and retains some vital vitamins.

👩🏽‍🍳Step-By-Step Instructions: Making Cabbage Soup

1. Prep and Sauté: Begin by prepping your veggies and spices. Roughly chop the cabbage and Roma tomatoes and gather the remaining ingredients.

Next, pour your extra virgin olive oil into a large pot and place it over medium heat. As it warms up, the olive oil's fragrance will greet you! Once it's shimmering, toss in the diced onions.

Pro tip: To prevent tears while cutting onions, try chilling them for 15 minutes beforehand!

2. Building Flavors: Once the onions become soft and translucent (oh, the sweet aroma!), it's time to introduce the garlic, celery, and spices into the pot. Stir them together, letting them mingle for about 2 minutes. Keep stirring to prevent the garlic from burning; nobody likes a bitter undertone!

3. Adding the Main Cast: Now, add in the Roma tomatoes, strained tomatoes, veggie broth, and chopped cabbage. Give everything a good stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let this beautiful mix simmer away for 30 minutes.

Pro tip: Setting a timer can be a lifesaver for the busy mom on-the-go!

4. The Final Touch: After those 30 minutes, pour in the lemon juice and let it sit for an additional 10 minutes. The cabbage should be tender but not mushy.

Pro tip: Taste the soup and adjust the salt or lemon juice as needed. Every palette is different!

A pot of healing cabbage soup surrounded by smaller bowls of soup.

🥬 Substitutions & Variations: Make It Your Own

We're all about the mantra "use what we have!" in the kitchen. Life's too short to fret over a missing ingredient or two. Our healing cabbage soup is versatile, and here are some swaps and tweaks to make it align with what’s in your pantry or fridge:

Substitutions:

Cabbage Conundrum: No napa cabbage on hand? Fret not! Savoy or even regular green cabbage can slip into the role just as gracefully.
Broth Swap: Out of veggie broth? A clear chicken or mushroom broth can do the trick. Just make sure it complements the flavors you're going for.
Tomato Twists: No strained tomatoes? Tomato paste diluted with a little water can give you that tangy richness.

Variations:

Boost with Beans: To amp up the protein and give the soup a hearty twist, stir in some white beans. They'll meld beautifully with the other flavors.
Bunch of Veggies: Feel free to add in any veggies you have on hand or want to use up. We love adding spinach, brocolli, green beans, bell peppers, and mushrooms to this healthy soup recipe.
Rice Resurgence: Got leftover white rice? Toss it into the soup during the last 10 minutes of cooking. It’ll add a lovely texture and make the soup even more filling.
Personalize for Picky Eaters: If there are specific veggies your family adores (or detests), a good idea is to add or omit them as needed. Remember, this soup is all about healing, comfort, and flexibility.

🥡Storage Guide

If you happen to have any leftover cabbage soup here are some storage guides:

Fridge: Store the soup in an airtight container. It'll keep well for up to 4-5 days.
Freezer: Portion the soup into freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Warm the soup in a pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If it's too thick after freezing, add a splash of veggie broth or water to get your desired consistency.

Enjoy your delicious, healing cabbage soup whenever the craving hits!

Top down view of a wooden table with a pot of easy vegan cabbage tomato soup being served

🤔 FAQs: Healing Cabbage Soup Queries Answered

How can I shorten the cooking time without sacrificing flavor?

Great question! For a quicker version, consider using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot to reduce the cooking time and the need to watch the pot. Just be sure to adjust the cooking settings accordingly. Remember, even with a reduced cooking time, the blend of ingredients in our healing cabbage soup ensures a delicious outcome.

I'm out of a few ingredients. Is this recipe flexible?

Absolutely! Our healing cabbage soup is forgiving and versatile. Check out our Substitutions & Variations section above for ideas on how to adapt based on what you have on hand. Remember, the aim is to provide a wholesome, tasty meal – not to stick rigidly to a recipe.

Can I prepare parts of this soup in advance for an even quicker mealtime solution?

Yes, you can! You might want to consider chopping the veggies in advance and storing them in the fridge. Or even better, you can make the entire soup a day or two before. The flavors meld and intensify when stored, making it even more delicious when reheated.

How can I increase the protein content in the healing cabbage soup?

Boosting the protein content of your soup can help keep you fuller for longer, and there are versatile ways to achieve this:
Vegan Boost: Add lentils, tofu, or chickpeas for a protein-packed twist.
Non-Vegan Boost: Stir in diced chicken, ground turkey, or drizzle whisked eggs for a hearty protein infusion.

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