I make this pot when I need a fresh start. The soup smells clean and bright. Tomato lifts the cabbage. Garlic warms the broth. I ladle a bowl and breathe. It feels light. It still tastes like real food. We keep a head of cabbage in the fridge for weeks. It waits and never complains. On a busy night I chop fast. Onion. Celery. Carrot. The knife thumps. The stock comes to a gentle boil. I stir and the colors turn soft. My family calls this the reset soup. We eat it before a long week. I add lemon at the end for snap. A spoon of herbs makes it homey. If I want more bite I shake in chili. If I want calm I leave it out. The bowl warms my hands. I feel steady and full but not heavy.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Comfort Cabbage Soup Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Comfort Cabbage Soup
- 4) How to Make Comfort Cabbage Soup
- 5) Tips for Making Comfort Cabbage Soup
- 6) Making Comfort Cabbage Soup Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Comfort Cabbage Soup
- 8) Try these Soup next
- 9) Comfort Cabbage Soup
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- Light yet filling soup that tastes bright and fresh with cabbage tomato and herbs
- Simple method that fits busy weeknights and steady meal prep plans
- Flexible base that welcomes beans chicken or a pinch of chili for heat
- Great fit for Balanced Meals and a steady helper for Best Weight Watchers Recipes lists
2) Easy Comfort Cabbage Soup Recipe
I wrote this pot with care and plain joy. Low Calorie Soup Recipes live on my stove when I want calm food that still brings flavor. Low Calorie Soup Recipes also guide my grocery cart. I grab a small cabbage a few carrots and a bright lemon. The plan looks simple and that is the point. Clean broth. Tender leaves. Warm garlic. The bowl steams and feels kind to the body and the mind.
On weeknights I start the pot as I sort backpacks and mail. Onion softens. Celery follows. Tomato lifts the color. The kitchen smells like a new start. I taste and adjust. A squeeze of lemon wakes the pot. The soup lands light. It still satisfies. It does not ask for bread though I will not say no if bread shows up.
I share this recipe on Elena Cooks by Elena. You can visit me on https://www.elenacooks.com where I keep more notes for cooks who want comfort without heaviness. The recipe works for Cabbage Dinner Ideas and leads the list for Cabbage Meals Dinners. It sits next to 0 Point Weight Watchers Snacks ideas and pairs well with tea when the day runs long. It feels like Antiinflammatory Soup and plays well with Balanced Meals.
3) Ingredients for Comfort Cabbage Soup
Olive oil A small splash helps the onion start soft and sweet. The heat stays gentle so the pot does not scorch. The oil coats the vegetables and carries the herb notes.
Onion One large onion gives a round base. I chop it fine so it melts into the broth. The flavor turns mellow and sets the stage for the cabbage.
Celery Three ribs add a clean bite. The slices stay crisp at first then soften. They add body without weight and bring a calm green scent.
Carrots Three carrots add color and natural sweetness. Thin coins cook fast and keep their shape. They play well with tomato and herbs.
Garlic Four cloves wake the broth. I mince them and stir for a short minute. The scent rises and signals dinner is close.
Green cabbage One small head shredded fine cooks to tender ribbons. Cabbage looks humble yet the soup turns on it. This is the heart of the bowl and the reason it earns a spot in low calorie soups
Red bell pepper A diced pepper adds gentle sweetness and bright color. It softens in the simmer and rounds the mix.
Zucchini One medium squash brings light body. It stays tender and blends with the cabbage without stealing the show.
Diced tomatoes One can with juice adds acid and hue. The tomato balances the cabbage and gives the broth a pleasant edge.
Vegetable broth Six cups carry the vegetables. A low sodium base lets you season with your hand not the label. A good broth keeps the soup clear and honest.
Smoked paprika A small spoon adds warmth and a hint of depth. It keeps the soup cozy without turning heavy.
Dried oregano and basil These pantry herbs speak softly and tie the vegetables together. They make the pot smell like home.
Black pepper and kosher salt Season in layers. Taste. Adjust. Let the cabbage shine. Balanced seasoning keeps the bowl bright and friendly.
Bay leaf One leaf adds a gentle wood note. Pull it out before serving. The flavor stays and the leaf leaves.
Lemon juice Two spoons stirred in at the finish wake every spoonful. The snap keeps the soup in the lane for light soup recipes
Parsley Fresh chopped parsley adds color and a clean finish. Sprinkle it right before you serve for best lift.
4) How to Make Comfort Cabbage Soup
Step one Set a large pot over medium heat. Add oil and onion with a pinch of salt. Stir until the onion softens and turns glossy. This step builds a sweet base.
Step two Add celery and carrots. Cook a short while so they begin to relax. The sound from the pot turns steady. The kitchen now smells like dinner.
Step three Stir in garlic bell pepper and zucchini. Give them two minutes so garlic wakes and squash softens. Keep the heat calm.
Step four Add cabbage tomatoes broth smoked paprika oregano basil pepper salt and the bay leaf. Bring the pot to a gentle boil. Watch the ribbons of cabbage sink.
Step five Lower the heat and simmer until the cabbage turns tender. Twenty to twenty five minutes works. Pull out the bay leaf and taste. Adjust salt to your liking.
Step six Stir in lemon juice and parsley. The broth brightens. Ladle into warm bowls. For those who track points this pairs with 0 Point Weight Watchers Snacks and still feels like a full meal.
5) Tips for Making Comfort Cabbage Soup
Season in layers. Salt the onion as it cooks. Taste again after the simmer. A small pinch at the end often brings the broth into focus. This habit helps all low calorie soups taste rich without extra fat.
Cut for comfort. Thin shreds of cabbage cook even and land soft on the spoon. Small carrot coins keep their shape and look pretty in the bowl. Uniform cuts help each bite feel balanced.
Finish with acid. Lemon at the end makes the pot sparkle. If you miss lemon try a splash of apple cider vinegar. For those who track plans this soup holds a steady spot among Best Weight Watchers Recipes and keeps pace with Balanced Meals.
6) Making Comfort Cabbage Soup Ahead of Time
I cook a full pot on Sunday and chill it in wide containers. The soup thickens a touch as the cabbage settles. By day two the flavors sit together and taste even better. This is the quiet power of low calorie soup ideas for busy weeks.
Pack single servings for work or school. The soup warms fast and smells like you took time for yourself. Add a wedge of lemon or a spoon of parsley at the desk and the bowl perks right up.
If you want protein add white beans or diced chicken when you reheat. The base stays friendly to both. The plan fits Cabbage Meals Dinners and keeps budgets steady without much effort.
7) Storing Leftover Comfort Cabbage Soup
Let the pot cool to warm room temp. Move the soup to airtight containers. Keep space at the top so the liquid can expand if you freeze it. Label the date and stack the containers so they sit flat.
Refrigerate for four days or freeze for three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Warm on the stove over medium heat and add a splash of broth if the soup looks thick. Taste and add lemon for snap.
This storage plan supports Balanced Meals all week. It also keeps your Low Calorie Soup Recipes list ready for last minute dinners. The soup lands bright after each reheat and still feels fresh.
8) Try these Soup next
9) Comfort Cabbage Soup
Low Calorie Soup Recipes Cozy Cabbage Soup You Will Make On Repeat
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 celery ribs sliced
- 3 carrots sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small green cabbage cored and shredded
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium zucchini chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14 ounces with juice
- 6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley for finish
Instructions
- Warm oil in a large pot over medium heat and add onion celery and carrots. Cook until the onion softens about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic bell pepper and zucchini. Cook 2 minutes.
- Add cabbage tomatoes broth paprika oregano basil pepper salt and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer until the cabbage turns tender 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
- Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust salt. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
10) Nutrition
Serving size one bowl
Calories 90 Fat 2 g Saturated fat 0 g Carbohydrates 17 g Fiber 4 g Protein 4 g Sugar 7 g Sodium 520 mg Cholesterol 0 mg
Numbers vary with broth brand and salt level. Use this guide as a friendly estimate. For those who track sets this soup supports Best Weight Watchers Recipes lists and fits with Cabbage Dinner Ideas and Antiinflammatory Soup goals.
Leave a Comment