Description
This hearty cabbage roll soup is a simplified version of traditional cabbage rolls, featuring ground beef, tender cabbage, rice, and a rich tomato broth. It’s an easy, one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights, offering comfort and nutrition in every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chopped green cabbage
- 2 medium carrots, quartered and sliced
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- ½ cup uncooked white rice
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot. Stir and cook for about 2-3 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent.
- Add the vegetables and broth: Stir in the chopped cabbage and carrots, allowing them to soften slightly. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, stirring to combine.
- Incorporate the rice and seasonings: Add the uncooked rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar. Stir everything together, ensuring the rice is evenly distributed.
- Simmer until tender: Bring the soup to a gentle simmer, cover, and let it cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the flavors meld together.
- Finish and serve: Remove the bay leaf and discard it. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle fresh parsley on top before serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a thicker soup, reduce the amount of broth slightly or let it simmer longer.
- Brown rice can be used instead of white rice, but increase the cooking time accordingly.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 213
- Sugar: 6.6g
- Sodium: 346mg
- Fat: 5.2g
- Saturated Fat: 2.8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20.2g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 20.2g
- Cholesterol: 46mg