Cabbage Soup

Autumn in Michigan is a magical, beautiful time - the weather is cool and the cabbages are plenty! It's a perfect time to make cabbage soup and enjoy this hearty, vegetarian meal with some good bread!
1 small head of cabbage, chopped. Remove the center core before chopping.
2 TBSP olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 rib of celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
6 cups vegetable stock
1 potato, peeled and diced (optional)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper
fresh lemon juice
In a large pot, add olive oil and heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook until softened, about five minutes. Add garlic and stir in. Once the garlic become fragrant add the cabbage. Add salt and pepper - to taste. Stir all contents together and let cabbage cook with other vegetables for about five or ten minutes.
Add dried thyme and can of diced tomatoes, including juice. Stir well. Add vegetable stock and potato (if using). Stir contents and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and continue to simmer for 30-35 minutes.
Taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice is a nice finishing touch and brightens the soup. Serve and enjoy!

[@ShesInLosAngeles]

Growing up, my Mom tried every trick to get vegetables into her 11 children. She would make something very similar to this but added tiny meatballs which the little ones loved. She was only 4’11” and never more than 100 pounds but was a super woman in my eyes. 👍🏼💕

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jane! Bless your mom for trying to get all her kids to eat some vegetables! That was a task in itself! My mom was a little taller than yours - 4" 11.5" LOL! But like your mom, she was a super hero! Thanks so much!

[@tveyeonyou]

Yummm. I can imagine this with garbanzo beans added for an almost complete meal!

[@heatherinparis]

I was just going to add a similar observation! Kidney beans might be good also.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi tveyeonyou! Adding beans to this soup is a great way to put in some protein and still keep it vegetarian. Perfect!

[@AugustMeteors]

@@heatherinparis Yes, I was just going to suggest white kidney beans might be a good stand-in for the potatoes sometimes.

[@suzannewahler7371]

I had a good laugh when you said "I talked to your boss and told him to raise your celery"! Thanks for making my morning!! Love you guys!!!

[@fredbiden868]

yes it was a good one..

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Suzanne! I couldn't resist saying that one! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@irmagerd7611]

🤣

[@neilschipper3741]

Yum.. being from the south I have my cabbage soup with cornbread, homemade cornbread not from a box. When making the cornbread I use a can of creamed corn along with a pinch of sugar.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Neil - when I was visiting friends in the south years ago they made cornbread the same way as you and it was some of the best I ever had! And cornbread is a perfect match for good soup! Thanks!

[@tomsparks6099]

My father, a coalminer, and who was a cook in the Army, made a vegetable soup which was essentially cabbage soup. I'm sure he put some vinegar in it and used whole peeled canned tomatoes, squished. As a Pollack myself, your recipes make me long for those old recipes which I do make. When it comes to cabbage --- It's Golabki time!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Tom - I'll bet your dad was a great cook! It is golabki time - the cabbages here are giant right now!

[@wallydat1]

I made cabbage soup for tonight's meal. I used diced ham, onions, celery, carrots, shredded cabbage with a diced and sauteed core, and potatoes. The broth was a combination of chicken and garlic stock. I was out of canned diced tomatoes so I used Pace's Picante Sauce (medium heat). I adjusted the seasoning in my bowl with salt and Dan-O's original seasoning which is heavy with thyme. A stale bagel (stale meaning hard as a rock) when softened in the stock, was a delightful addition to what already was a very satisfying meal. Thanks for reminding me of this old favorite, this old friend!

[@curlyqstooge]

6:43 They're "Sweatin' To The Oldies" 🤣🤣 Oh boy, that Ralph! 🤣🤣

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi curlyqstooge - Ralph always knows what to say!! LOL

[@salliemorrill2671]

I agree w/ the serving suggestion of bread vs crackers. We used to buy 2 or 3 loaves of New Orleans French bread, slice them into 6" chunks, wrap them in aluminum foil, & throw them in the freezer. Turn the oven on lowest setting, toss in wrapped French bread, plates/bowls, go nice & slow. Such a great recipe to keep in the freezer. Very versatile: feeds a lot of people, good for you when sick, keeps you warm in the winter, very nutritious, etc. Thank you for sharing this.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Love how you used the French bread! Nothing better than good bread and a hot bowl of soup - especially this time of year. Thanks, Sallie!

[@dalebartnick9403]

Another fantastic episode! I absolutely love cabbage and especially cabbage soup. Keep the episodes coming!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Dale! We will keep them coming!

[@markaustin4370]

Love you guys I'll make this soon!!! I'll probably make 3 minor tweaks... Lemon zest instead of juice, fresh thyme Because it's in my herb garden and a drizzle of black truffle oil to finish Stay warm and eat well

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Mark! All your tweaks are great ones! Use up that fresh thyme! We are eating well and staying warm. It's in the upper 60's today in Michigan, which is uncommonly warm for early November. Enjoying it while it lasts!

[@jack6964]

I have my Babcia’s recipe for Kapuśniak. She always put country style pork spareribs in it except during Lent or Fridays. I make it quite a bit in the winter. It’s nice to see your version!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi John - I'll bet your Babcia's recipe is delicious, especially with the country ribs! Thanks!

[@devolinski]

In my family we called it Kapusta

[@tamsondarland8951]

Thank you for doing a vegetarian type of recipe. I love cabbage. Take care. Love from Ky. 🥬🥬🥬😋

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome, Tamson! Hope you give it a try!

[@tamsondarland8951]

@@cavalcadeoffood I am definitely trying. Oh yum😇

[@karenroy9045]

Excellent video as usual! Nice handwriting too!

[@blukatzen]

Omg those 2 bowls on the edge of the counter right where he could wave his arm. CRASH!!!! YOURE FREAKING ME OUT! LOL!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

No worries - haven't lost a bowl yet!

[@garyhart7449]

I made this today, added some ham..it is awesome! I shared the video to friends who wanted the recipe.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Gary! The addition of the ham sounds terrific! I'll bet it was delicious! Thanks!

[@jjiacobucci]

I love your channel ! Keven and Ralph, keep it going. “We all should be eating more cabbage” with the threat of the shaking wooden spoon :)

[@cavalcadeoffood]

LOL! I should have had a spoon in my hand! Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@debbiel7736]

The food of my people! lol. We always had meat in ours, either pork or beef on a bone. And always rye bread and butter. Dobre jedzenie, ciesz sie.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome, Debbie! Nice rye bread is perfect with soup!! Thanks!

[@brianderowski6606]

Awesome! Thank you for this recipe!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You are very welcome, Brian!!

[@rickbachman993]

Thanks, love cabbage. And yes,we all should eat more of it! I Enjoy watching your channel. I always watch your Beef and Barley soup video when I’m making a pot of my own. Early Happy Holidays to guys!😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Rick!! Thanks for watching! It's good weather for some beef and barley soup! Hope your holidays are wonderful!

[@janeparrett8601]

Great soup idea. My husband just decided to become vegetarian on monday. Thanks cabbage-cade of food.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

LOL! Thanks, Jane - I love cabbage-cade of food!! If your husband has chosen to be vegetarian then this is a perfect soup for him!

[@Canerican.]

This looks good ! I’ll try it because I’m trying to convince my husband,Steviekins that you don’t need to eat a meal with meat every night! This looks healthy!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi CC! Hope your husband goes for the idea! Thanks!

[@jmarcos1008]

It looks delicious. I love cabbage. Thank you 😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

It was a great soup for colder weather. I'm like you - I love cabbage!

[@fredbiden868]

in my almost 70ty yrs..I have always cut up the heart or core and loved eating it..n put in smoked neck bones in it..n your recipe also looks great..

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Ross - we always took the core out, but I'll bet there is a lot of nutrition in it! The smoked neck bones must give it a great flavor. Thanks!

[@vallis1469]

Soup's on!! Love it. I'm going to do my version this week. Yep, it's on the menu. Thanks guys for all the delicious goodies. Hope all is well in Michigan.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Valli!! Glad you're in a soup making mood! Perfect time of year for it! Hope all is well with you!

[@carlaramunno7314]

Made this last night and had it for lunch today!!! Delish and stick to your ribs.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Glad you enjoyed it, Carla! Thanks for letting me know!

[@silverbubbles4728]

Thanks Kevin & Ralph, your kapusta recipe is a keeper by the way! Love it & will try this one!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Silver Bubbles!! So glad you like the kapusta! I just made a big batch a few days ago for the holidays (it's in the freezer). Thanks!

[@monadotson741]

Kevin this looks amazing ❤

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Mona!

[@allenwayne2033]

Sebastian Cabbage! Ha! Good one Ralph! Gotta be a boomer to get that one! Myself, I always use the core too, buy chopping it up into matchstick size pieces.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Allen - you caught the Sabastian Cabbage! LOL Thanks!

[@scooterdover2771]

I make a lot of soup, but quite frankly have never tried cabbage. I used to love the cabbage soup that they had at Ellias Bros Big Boy. I think it was like supposed to be some diet recipe. Maybe Weight Watchers, but it was very good and I think much like yours.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Scooter! I remember that Big Boy used to often have cabbage soup. There is a Weight Watchers recipe that was popular for a long time, maybe that's what Big Boy used to offer. Thanks!

[@voyagecruisetravel]

Thanks for the recipe delish fall soup and healthy toooo

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@TheWurlitzerman123]

This same recipe but with some kielbasa in it would be just great...may have to try that now.

[@TheWurlitzerman123]

My bubba (even though she wasn't a fan of that name) would have approved of this.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi KeystoneRetronaut! Adding some kielbasa would be nice in this soup! Glad your bubba would approve!!

[@wallydat1]

You might try dicing up the cabbage core/heart to match the size of the diced carrots and throw them in with the onions to soften. Tastes fine and saves waste. I also use a little corn flower slurry to thicken the broth just a tad. I also add a meat, either ham, chicken, polish sausage, or albondigas meatballs to beef up (no pun intended) the broth which is generally recontituted from on a chicken or ham concentrate

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Wally!

[@OldeHadleyVintage]

Hi Kev and Ralph! Thanks soooo much for doing this recipe I have been looking for a good fall cabbage soup! This is it! Looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it!! Glad you’re both well!! Hugs! Jeff xo

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jeff!! You're welcome - hope you make a big pot of soup! This one is perfect for the fall!

[@DavidKozinski]

Perfect for this cold spell. This is a staple soup here during the wintertime.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi David - it really is great for the cooler weather, and here in Michigan the cabbages I've seen at the market are giant, so it's a great way to use them. Thanks!

[@heatherinparis]

OMG that looks delicious! Thank you for jogging my memory😍🤩

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Heather!

[@Theaterverslaafde]

Oeh, mjammm.... cabbage. Great source of vitamin C, also. My reflex was fry some whole caraway seeds first and then ad the onions, celery and carrot. Caraway helps the digestion and diminishes gasforming, I was told. But also, its the taste of my childhood and I like it 🥰. Also, I would fry up a part of the cabbage aggressively, because I love that 'roasted' taste. Tricky, because it's a thin line with 'burnt', a not so pleasant taste 😄. And I also always toss in a bayleaf. (Although I don't know if that really does something, come to think about it 🤔) Whah! You gave me a frigh using that thing that I only know as a sugar shaker 🤣. Salt? Hmm.. why not. I would be fearful of it clumping, for its relative open in a damp-ish kitchen. Although your kitchen is of course waaay bigger than mine. Thanks again for all your efforts gentleman, and until next time 👋🏻 Greetings from Purmerend, the Netherlands

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Linda - that fried cabbage with caraway you describe sounds so good! I just love cabbage about any way it can be prepared. I hate having to refill the salt so often so I use an old sugar shaker for salt (pepper, too). Thanks so much!

[@raffinataonline]

Love this. Lemon brightens everything up. 👏

[@cavalcadeoffood]

It's sure does! Thanks, raffinataonline!

[@jenniferhart7026]

The spoon rest in action!! ❤ and thanks for having a veg recipe. Looks delicious. I’ve got all the ingredients so I’ll be making it tomorrow ❤

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jennifer! The trusty spoon rest at work! Hope your soup turns out yummy!

[@goingslightlymad7172]

I love that spoon rest, Kevin! 😍😍

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, GSM! It's been with me for many years!

[@goingslightlymad7172]

I'm so glad you posted this!🥰 I tried to make a version and it was yuckky! 🤢 I will definitely try this recipe!!😊😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hope you give this recipe a try, GSM!

[@gregbudig5014]

There ARE multiple options for cabbage soup. I've made it with country style pork ribs and sauerkraut with a sprinkle of caraway, I've made golabki soup with hamburger, tomatoes and rice and I've made it with smoked sausage, carrots and potatoes. I've never made a meatless variety, maybe I should give it a try. Take care!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Greg - I love all your versions - they sound wonderful, especially with the country ribs and caraway! Thanks!!

[@mklotz1426]

My mom would call this "garbage soup" which referred to the fact that she would use whatever she may have on hand. But usually the approach was very similar each time.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Marty - Amazing how people could always find things to toss in the pot and make something wonderful!! This is the kind of soup you could make countless variations of, for sure! Thanks!

[@TuckerSP2011]

I love cabbage soup. It's hearty and delicious. I have heard that cabbage helps you shed excess water from the body.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi TuckerSP2011 - I've also heard that cabbage is a great help for weight loss, maybe because it helps with water removal. It also has a lot of nutrition. Thanks!

[@devolinski]

I still can Tomatoes so I will have to try this

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Nice that you can your own tomatoes!

[@Diane7560]

Thank you for posting this wonderful video! The soup looks delicious. I am curious about the little 2 burner cooktop you are using...is it vintage and what brand is it? I could use something like it in my tiny cottage. Thanks!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Diane! That small cook top is made by GE. It's not really vintage, but it has a vintage look, which is why I got it (and it was the right size for the countertop!). I bought this about 10 years ago, so I'm not sure if they still make this model. Thanks!

[@irmagerd7611]

Late to comment but yes Ralph, is a bit more than a soup. Maybe in between a soup and stew? Bigos light perhaps? LOL

[@jakeblake231]

OOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!! , . . .smack Ralph's mouth ! . . . Do you have the thyme?! Great food AND laughs! Keep it coming. ;-)

[@cavalcadeoffood]

LOL - thanks, Blake! We can count on Ralph for a funny line!

[@jstrie275]

My Grandma made kapusta soup with pork

[@cavalcadeoffood]

That sounds like a great soup!!

[@sylviafischer7739]

🥰❤👍

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Sylvia!

[@garyhart7449]

Purple or red cabbage vs. green cabbage..Thoughts?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Gary - for the soup I think green is best. The purple cabbage has a nice flavor, but the color "bleeds" when it cooks and you have purple soup. Thanks!

[@cyrilhudak4568]

Sublime in its simplicity. Sometime with the carrot and cabbage, it will be almost too sweet on the tongue. Consider using a pinch of Italian pepper flakes in the bowel as a counterbalance.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Cyril - thanks for the idea about pepper flakes! I actually enjoy sweet/hot combinations. Thanks!

[@Doshchopandtuneshop]

Hey the guy im working for has an upright roaster like the two you have, would you be interested in it?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Dosh Chop and Tune Shop! Thanks so much for the offer, but I already have a pretty big collection of roasters. But people love those older roasters so I know someone would be interested in it! Thanks!

[@Doshchopandtuneshop]

@@cavalcadeoffood alright, is it possible you could give me their contact info so I could get in touch or let them know yourself? Also how would I schedule a tour of your collection I know a pair of young women that would love to see your collection

[@cavalcadeoffood]

@@Doshchopandtuneshop I don't know any specific person but I know I hear from people from time to time looking for those old roasters. A good place to list them is on Facebook Marketplace - a lot of people use it to find things like that. I plan on having the collection available for tours sometime next year, so please email me at [e-mail] and we can make arrangements. Thanks!

[@tveyeonyou]

I'd suggest to not always give up on the center core of the cabbage -- a freshly picked center can be sweeter than even the leaves.!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks - I'll have to remember that!

[@katiemcdavid4124]

You get sugar from the carrots.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Yes, the carrots add a touch of sweet.