Description
Hearty cabbage soup with hamburger delights home cooks seeking comfort and nutrition. German-inspired ingredients combine in a simple, satisfying meal perfect for chilly evenings you’ll savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground beef (lean or extra-lean)
- ½ head green cabbage, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 4 cups (950 ml) beef broth (or chicken broth for a lighter flavor)
- 2 cups (475 ml) water
- 1 can (14.5 oz or 411 g) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 can (6 oz or 170 g) tomato paste
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sear ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, breaking it into fine crumbles until fully cooked and golden brown.
- Aromatic Base: Drain excess fat, then sauté onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant, releasing their deep, savory essence.
- Vegetable Integration: Add cabbage, carrots, and celery to the pot, stirring to create a robust vegetable foundation that softens and melds together.
- Liquid Composition: Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, and water, blending the ingredients to create a harmonious liquid base.
- Seasoning Elevation: Sprinkle thyme, basil, paprika, salt, and black pepper, infusing the soup with a complex layers of herbal and warming flavors.
- Simmering Process: Bring to a quick boil, then reduce heat and cover, allowing the soup to simmer gently for 30 minutes, enabling ingredients to tenderize and develop deep, rich flavors.
- Final Touch: Taste and adjust seasonings, then serve hot, garnishing with fresh parsley for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Beef Browning Precision: Cook ground beef completely and break into fine crumbles to ensure even texture and prevent large meat chunks that disrupt soup consistency.
- Fat Management Strategy: Drain excess beef fat thoroughly to prevent greasy soup and maintain a clean, balanced flavor profile without compromising meat’s richness.
- Vegetable Cutting Technique: Slice vegetables uniformly for consistent cooking and even softening, ensuring each spoonful delivers balanced texture and flavor distribution.
- Simmering Sweet Spot: Control heat during simmering to prevent overcooking; low and gentle heat allows ingredients to develop deep flavors without losing vegetable structure or meat tenderness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg