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Stuffed Cabbage Soup Recipe

Stuffed Cabbage Soup Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 50-55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Hearty Polish Stuffed Cabbage Soup brings classic comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen to your bowl. Savory ground beef, tender cabbage, and rich tomato broth blend into a soul-warming meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 head green cabbage
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork

Liquid Base:

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water

Additional Ingredients:

  • 1 large onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 bay leaf

Garnish/Optional:

  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

Instructions

  1. Core and roughly chop the green cabbage into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform size for even cooking.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Sauté diced onions until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
  5. Incorporate ground beef and ground pork, breaking meat into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
  6. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, paprika, and add bay leaf to the meat mixture, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly.
  7. Pour in chicken broth, tomato sauce, and water, bringing the liquid to a gentle simmer.
  8. Stir in uncooked rice and chopped cabbage, ensuring all ingredients are well combined.
  9. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer for 25-30 minutes until cabbage is tender and rice is fully cooked.
  10. Remove bay leaf before serving.
  11. Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream.
  12. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

  • Use uniform cabbage pieces to ensure consistent texture and even cooking throughout the soup.
  • Brown meat thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavors and eliminate any potential raw meat taste.
  • Low and slow simmering helps tenderize cabbage and allows seasonings to meld beautifully, creating a more complex taste profile.
  • Swap ground meats with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu or lentils for a vegetarian version that maintains hearty protein content.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Eastern European

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 325
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 600 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 20 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg