Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe: A Comforting and Flavorful Meal
This hearty and flavorful cabbage roll soup recipe is perfect for a chilly evening. It captures all the deliciousness of traditional cabbage rolls without the time-consuming assembly. This recipe is easily customizable, allowing you to adjust the ingredients to your liking and dietary needs. Let's dive into the details!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe provides a comprehensive list of ingredients, ensuring you have everything on hand before you start cooking. Remember, you can always adjust quantities to suit your needs.
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For the Soup Base:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 8 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option)
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 medium head of green cabbage, shredded
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey or vegetarian crumbles for variations)
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
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For the Flavor Boost:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for richer tomato flavor)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
This recipe provides clear, concise instructions, making it easy to follow along.
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Sauté the Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute until fragrant.
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Brown the Ground Meat: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
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Simmer the Soup: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste (if using), beef broth, shredded cabbage, rice, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender and the rice is cooked through.
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Serve and Enjoy: Remove the bay leaf before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
Tips and Variations:
Here are some additional tips and variations to elevate your cabbage roll soup experience.
- Add more vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables like diced potatoes, green beans, or zucchini.
- Spice it up: Increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- Make it creamy: Stir in a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche before serving.
- Add different meats: Experiment with different types of ground meat, such as pork or a combination of beef and pork.
- Use different types of cabbage: Savoy cabbage or Napa cabbage can also be used.
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