Description
Comforting stuffed cabbage soup brings hearty Polish family traditions to your kitchen with rich, savory flavors. Warmth and nostalgia mingle in each spoonful, inviting you to savor a classic dish that connects generations through its robust ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (85% lean)
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small head of cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped (or 2 bags of pre-shredded coleslaw)
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1 28 ounces (794 grams) can of crushed tomatoes
- 6 cups beef stock or broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 cup uncooked rice
- V8 juice or water to thin the soup if it gets too thick
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a robust pot, introducing ground beef, diced onions, and colorful bell peppers. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper, sautéing until meat caramelizes and vegetables soften.
- Incorporate chopped cabbage, crushed tomatoes, rich vegetable stock, aromatic bay leaf, fragrant dill, smoky paprika, and tangy Worcestershire sauce. Elevate heat to trigger rapid boiling, then immediately reduce to gentle simmering.
- Allow soup to gently bubble, uncovered, for approximately 45 minutes, ensuring cabbage transforms into tender, translucent ribbons while flavors harmonize.
- Introduce uncooked rice, continuing the simmering process for an additional half-hour, stirring occasionally to prevent rice from clustering.
- Assess soup’s consistency, recognizing potential thickness. Should liquid appear too dense, delicately thin with vegetable juice or pure water, maintaining balanced texture.
- Perform final seasoning adjustment, carefully calibrating salt and pepper to complement the soup’s robust profile, ensuring every spoonful delivers complex, satisfying flavor.
Notes
- Choose ground beef with lower fat content to reduce greasiness and create a healthier soup base.
- Dice vegetables uniformly for consistent cooking and better texture throughout the soup.
- Consider using brown rice for added nutritional value and a nuttier flavor profile.
- When reducing sodium, substitute low-sodium broth and limit additional salt, using herbs and spices for enhanced taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg