Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (2024)

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (1)

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef, ground turkey, or sausage – or a mix between them all.
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 small head cabbage, chopped
  • 2 (14.5 ounces) cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 (6 ounces) can tomato paste
  • 6 oz water (or part vegetable or broth for more flavor)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional for extra spice:
  • 1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • A few leaves of chopped fresh basil

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe Instructions

Here are the instructions and steps for the unstuffed cabbage soup!

  1. Heat a Dutch oven or extra-large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil and cook the onions until translucent. Cook beef or turkey meat and onion in the hot Dutch oven until browned.
  3. Drain and discard grease.
  4. Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, cumin, and fresh basil. I found by using the fire-roasted tomatoes it made a huge difference in taste.
  5. Bring the ingredients to a boil.
  6. Cover Dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender. This will take about 30 minutes. Note: It may seem like you don’t have enough water at first but when the cabbage cooks down it will be perfect

Get the printable recipe below!

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (2)

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

There are tons of healthy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipes out there or cabbage roll soups, but I ended up making mine with a bit more spice to bring it to a whole new level. Not only that but I am trying to eat more of the superfoods like cabbage. In fact, I was just reading on Wiki that studies show cabbage has protective effects against colon cancer amongst many other diseases. Cabbage is also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and folate. So you may as well make an awesome recipe with something that is really good for you right?!

There are few “healthy” recipes that the whole family agrees upon but this is one they all like. If you don’t like spice, I suggest not adding the crushed red pepper. It’s not too spicy but the kids will notice it.

Recipe Notes for Unstuffed Cabbage:

This recipe has been extremely popular and lots of readers have commented on different spices they have used to make it even better. Here are some suggestions I’ve received:

  • add a little brown sugar, celery seed with some crushed red pepper. (not for keto of course)
  • Add 1Tbs of Worcestershire sauce ….. I PROMISE it makes the whole dish taste very different and worth it!

I always make a huge batch of this dish because it gets devoured in no time. My Cuisinart 6 quart pot is the best!!

You might also be interested in this Keto Chicken Parmesan Recipe that’s made in a slow cooker! It’s totally delicious and super easy to make.

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe Nutrition

Serves 8

Calories 161, Total C 3.2g, Fiber 1.2g, Net C 2g, Sugars 1.8g, Fat 4.6g, Protein 25.5g

If you’ve tried a new spice variation leave a comment below! I would love to hear about it. This stuffed cabbage soup is so simple to make, the whole family will love it. This is our favorite healthy cabbage recipes we make all the time in the cooler months of the year.

On the search for more dinner recipes

  • Chile Relleno Casserole
  • Keto Taco Casserole
  • Big Mac Cheeseburger Casserole

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (3)

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe

Make a delicious meal with just a few ingredients.

4.38 from 56 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Meal

Servings 8 servings

Calories 161

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef ground turkey, or sausage – or a mix between them all.
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 1 small head cabbage chopped
  • 2 14.5 ounces cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 6 ounces can tomato paste
  • 6 oz water or part vegetable or broth for more flavor
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional for extra spice:
  • 1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • A few leaves of chopped fresh basil

Instructions

  • Heat a Dutch oven or extra large skillet over medium-high heat.

  • Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil and cook the onions until translucent. Cook beef or turkey meat and onion in the hot Dutch oven until browned.

  • Drain and discard grease.

  • Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, cumin, and fresh basil. I found by using the fire roasted tomatoes it made a huge difference in taste.

  • Bring the ingredients to a boil.

  • Cover Dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender. This will take about 30 minutes.

  • (Note: It may seem like you don’t have enough water at first but when the cabbage cooks down it will be perfect)

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 161 | Carbohydrates: 3.2g | Protein: 25.5g | Fat: 4.6g | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 1.8g | Net Carbs: 2g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy.

Tried this recipe? Mention @ISaveA2Z or tag #KetoFriendlyRecipes!

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (4)

Have you tried cabbage roll soup yet?

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cabbage soup taste so bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

Why are my stuffed cabbage rolls tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Does cabbage soup cleanse you out? ›

Cabbage has diuretic properties that helps get rid your body of excess liquid and toxins. It helps cleanse your liver and colon. Which is why cabbage forms the base for this detox cabbage soup. You can add veggies or proteins of your choice such as egg, ground chicken, lamb!

Why is my cabbage so tough? ›

You're not cooking the right kind of cabbage

If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. The Savoy cabbage can be used as a substitute for green cabbage, just keep in mind that its leaves are a bit more tender than that of other cabbages.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

How long do you boil cabbage to get it tender? ›

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add cabbage. (It's OK to crowd the pot because the cabbage will shrink!) Step 2Boil until tender, about 5 minutes for shredded cabbage and 10 minutes for wedges.

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

If you want to make stuffed cabbage leaves, you don't have to cook the leaves to make them pliable. It's a lot easier just to freeze the cabbage—an added benefit is it doesn't stink up your house.

What is the Dolly Parton diet? ›

You may have heard of something called the Dolly Parton Diet — which consists of eating cabbage soup (yes, cabbage soup!) as your main meals along with fruit and vegetables. It's also known as the TWA Stewardess Diet and, well, the Cabbage Soup Diet.

Does cabbage soup burn belly fat? ›

Does it work for weight loss? The Cabbage Soup Diet has never been studied, so it's impossible to confirm its effectiveness. While it may result in temporary, short-term weight loss, it is unlikely to lead to sustainable weight loss.

What can't you eat on the cabbage soup diet? ›

The cabbage soup diet allows you to eat all of the cabbage soup you like in addition to adding certain foods on specific days throughout the week. No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, including diet sodas.

Can you overcook cabbage in soup? ›

Yes, the cabbage is overcooked when it's very soft or pretty much falling apart in the soup. Just keep simmering until it's translucent and tender with a slight bite.

What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.

What can I do with tough cabbage? ›

When you salt any vegetable that has high water content, the salt draws out some of the water by simple osmosis. You don't want to salt lettuce in advance — it will wilt — but salting works wonders with cabbage. The shredded leaves become more tender, and their flavor grows more concentrated.

How do you fix bland cabbage soup? ›

I always find it difficult to season a soup after it's been made, I usually try to add no sodium type flavors in the very beginning – you might try beginning with a bit of olive oil in the pan and adding just a few red pepper flakes, let cook a minute, then add onions until translucent, during this time, add pepper, ...

How do I fix bland tasting soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

How do you keep soup from being bland? ›

Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex. Experiment with different cooking methods: Roasting or caramelizing vegetables before adding them to the soup can bring out thei.

How do you salvage bland soup? ›

Not enough depth: A well-rounded soup has multiple layers of flavour, including acidity, umami, and sweetness. If your soup is missing any of these, it may taste bland. Adding ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice for acidity, parmesan cheese for umami, or even a touch of sweetness can make a world of difference.

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