Description
Hearty German cabbage soup blends rich ground beef with tender vegetables in a comforting one-pot meal. Robust flavors and simple ingredients create a nourishing dinner that warms you from the first delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
Vegetables:
- ½ head of cabbage, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a spacious cooking vessel and thoroughly brown the ground beef, meticulously crumbling the meat while ensuring complete cooking. Eliminate any excess rendering.
- Without cleaning the pot, introduce a light coating of olive oil and gently transform the onions, carrots, and celery into a translucent, softened medley through careful sautéing.
- Infuse the aromatic landscape with minced garlic, allowing its essence to permeate the vegetable foundation for approximately 60 seconds.
- Reunite the cooked beef with the vegetable mixture, then incorporate the shredded cabbage, tomatoes with their natural juices, robust beef broth, and a harmonious blend of herbs and spices including basil, oregano, smoked paprika, seasoning agents, and a solitary bay leaf.
- Elevate the liquid to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Envelop the pot and allow the ingredients to meld and tenderize for roughly 25 minutes.
- During the final moments of cooking, introduce diced zucchini to provide additional textural complexity and nutritional depth.
- Extract the bay leaf, calibrate the seasoning through careful tasting, and present the soup piping hot. Optional: Embellish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize the soup’s spiciness by adding red pepper flakes or hot sauce for those who enjoy a kick.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter, leaner version suitable for different dietary preferences.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for increased vitamins and fiber.
- Boost protein content and texture by stirring in cooked quinoa or beans during the last few minutes of simmering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg