Description
Hearty cabbage soup with ground beef delights home cooks seeking comfortable winter meals. Simple ingredients blend perfectly for a nourishing bowl you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 6 cups beef broth
- ½ head of cabbage, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411 g) diced tomatoes
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 zucchini, diced (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Browning Beef: In a large pot, thoroughly brown ground beef, breaking it into fine crumbles and draining excess fat to ensure a lean, flavorful base.
- Vegetable Foundation: Without cleaning the pot, sauté onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until they become translucent and fragrant, creating an aromatic vegetable medley.
- Aromatic Layering: Introduce minced garlic and briefly toast to release its intense flavors, enhancing the overall depth of the soup’s profile.
- Liquid Fusion: Combine browned beef with sautéed vegetables, then add shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and a complex blend of herbs including basil, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf.
- Simmering Process: Bring the mixture to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow ingredients to meld and tenderize for approximately 25 minutes, developing rich, interconnected flavors.
- Final Touches: Stir in diced zucchini during the last few minutes of cooking to add textural variation and nutritional enhancement. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serving: Ladle the soup into warm bowls, optionally garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, fresh finish that brightens the entire dish.
Notes
Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef develops a deep golden-brown crust by avoiding overcrowding the pan, which prevents proper caramelization and enhances overall flavor complexity.
Minimize Fat Content: Drain excess beef fat thoroughly after browning to create a lighter, healthier soup without compromising rich, meaty undertones.
Vegetable Timing Technique: Add softer vegetables like zucchini during the final cooking stage to preserve their texture and prevent mushiness, maintaining a delightful crisp-tender quality.
Herb Freshness Boost: Sprinkle fresh parsley just before serving to introduce a vibrant, aromatic finish that elevates the soup’s sensory experience and provides a bright, fresh contrast to the rich, hearty base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg