While we tend to opt for lighter dishes in the summer, we particularly enjoy delicious stews and soups in the autumn and winter months. Whether sauerkraut salad as a side dish with meat, stuffed cabbage rolls or in a casserole with minced meat - the preparation of white cabbage has a long tradition in German cuisine and can be used to conjure up a wide variety of delicacies. The crunchy vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients and are an indispensable part of our table. In today's article we would like to introduce you to another German classic from our childhood, namely our best recipe for cabbage soup. Grandma's way, FrenchCabbage soupor from the Thermomix – the range of cabbage soup variations is really huge and the recipes warm our souls. What are you waiting for? Read on and get to the stove!
Is cabbage soup healthy?
White cabbage is one of the most popular types of cabbage in Europe and is in season here from June to April. The crunchy vegetable is a real superfood and provides us with numerous health-promoting ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin A as well as folic acid, potassium and selenium in the cold season. It also strengthens our immune system, has an anti-inflammatory effect and scores with only 22 calories per 100 grams. Cabbage soup is also known in the USA as “Magic Soup” – or in German “magic cabbage soup”. You may have heard of the cabbage soup diet, which is supposed to help us lose 5 to 7 kilos in a very short time. This is because the body has to work harder to digest the fiber-rich ingredients and vegetables, thus consuming more calories than it consumes. Although cabbage soup is healthy, the diet is a very strict reduction diet and the daily calorie intake is very low. As you know, such crash diets are not recommended and you should instead rely on a balanced diet.
You should also try:Sauerkraut soup: 2 delicious recipes that are perfect for the cold season!
The best recipe for grandma's style cabbage soup
Whether a juicy Skyr cake or a quick onequick 3 ingredient snacks– as amateur chefs, we love trying out new dishes. But classics like our recipe for grandma's-style cabbage soup also taste great and bring back great childhood memories for us. Full of flavor and irresistibly delicious – perfect for a light dinner!
Broth ingredients:
- 1 cube of beef broth
- 250 grams of soup meat – beef brisket
- 1 liter of water
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 1 bunch of soup greens, washed and roughly chopped
- Salt and pepper
Cabbage soup:
- 1 small head of white cabbage
- 1 small onion
- 300 grams tomatoes, peeled
- 3 Vienna sausages or Mettendchen
- 30 Gramm Butter
- 100 grams cooked ham (optional, but recommended)
- 2 bay leaves, dried
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp sugar or honey
- Some fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- For the meat broth, bring the water with the beef broth to the boil and add the greens, onions and beef brisket.
- Season with salt and pepper, reduce heat and simmer covered for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté onion with sugar and bay leaves for 15 minutes until translucent.
- Add the cooked ham, tomatoes and cumin and simmer in the open pot for another 15 minutes.
- Then add some of the meat broth and let it simmer for another 30 minutes.
- Clean the white cabbage thoroughly, remove the stalk and cut into thin strips.
- Strain the meat broth through a sieve and collect the liquid. Roughly dice the beef brisket.
- Bring the meat stock to the boil and cook with the white cabbage, beef brisket, sausages and parsley for 15 minutes.
- Then add the soup, stir well and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper and garnish with a little sour cream if desired. And voilà – this is the best recipe for grandma’s style cabbage soup!
French cabbage soup à la “Louis de Funes”
Do you want to prepare something really delicious and special for dinner? Then you should definitely remember our recipe for French cabbage soup à la Louis de Funes! The classic became known through the film “La soup auc choux”, in German “Louis and his alien cabbages”, and has enjoyed increasing popularity ever since. However, the film doesn't provide the recipe for cabbage soup, which leaves you plenty of room for your own experiments.
Ingredients:
- 1 large white cabbage
- 300 grams of beef leg slice
- 200 grams of smoked bacon
- 500 grams potatoes, roughly diced
- 500 grams of onions, chopped small
- 300 grams carrots, chopped small
- 7 cloves of garlic
- 1 small tomato
- 1 piece of French meter bread or brown bread of your choice
- 4 liters of water
- 1 liter of white wine
- 1 liter of sweet cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- Cut the white cabbage, remove the stalk and outer leaves and chop into small pieces.
- Add water and cabbage to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Add the onions, carrots and leg slice, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Then add the potatoes and garlic cloves.
- Season with salt and pepper and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Add the tomato and stir well.
- Remove the pot from the heat and garnish the French cabbage soup with bacon.
- Serve with bread and enjoy!
Cabbage soup recipe for weight loss
Would you like to lose a few more kilos? Then you will love our recipe for cabbage soup for weight loss! With only 150 calories per serving and still very tasty - perfect for a light and low-calorie dinner! And the best part? Feel free to experiment with the ingredients and use other vegetables of your choice.
Ingredients for 8 servings:
- 1 medium-sized head of white cabbage
- 1 bunch of celery, chopped small
- 2 red peppers, chopped small
- 2 carrots, chopped small
- 1 large onion, diced
- 100 grams of green beans
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 liters of water
- Salt and pepper
Preparation:
- Heat olive oil in a large bowl over medium heat.
- Sauté onions, carrots, peppers and celery for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the white cabbage, green beans and bay leaves and stir.
- Deglaze with diced tomatoes and water and bring to the boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer covered for 40-45 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper and your low-calorie cabbage soup for losing weight is ready!
Lentil soup with quinoa and white cabbage
And finally a great recipe for cabbage soup with a difference. A hearty blend of quinoa and lentils, packed with flavor and only 270 calories per serving - the perfect oneFall dinner!
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized head of white cabbage
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 150 grams of lentils
- 90 Gramm Quinoa
- 1 liter of water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper
Preparation:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and saute onions and garlic for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the white cabbage and cook for another 5 minutes until it becomes soft.
- Add lentils and water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the quinoa, tomatoes, soy sauce and vinegar and simmer for another 20 minutes.
- Remove the cabbage soup from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and enjoy!
