Cabbage Rolls are right up there on the list of my favorite meals. The combination of flavors speaks to my soul and I love how the cabbage cooks in the tomato mixture……mmmm, they are just so delicious on so many levels.
However, they are not exactly simple to make. It can be a bit of a pain to peel off the cabbage leaves and roll up the mixture in them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth it but on busy nights it just isn’t going to fly.
Enter, cabbage roll soup. The perfect solution and it is going to blow your mind how much this soup tastes exactly like cabbage rolls. Serve it up with some soda crackers or your favorite rolls and you’ll be one happy camper.
Oh, and I almost forgot. It is also gluten free for all my gluten free friends.
More delicious soup recipes
Cabbage Roll Soup
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Deconstructed cabbage rolls in an amazing soup. So delicious and comforting. Will warm you up on a cold winters night.
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Soup
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot or 7-8 baby carrots, finely grated
- 3 large cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 29 ounce can crushed tomatoes with basil (if using regular crushed tomatoes add ½ tsp basil)
- 4 cups beef or chicken broth or stock
- 2-3 cups water
- ½ cup raw rice
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- 4 cups chopped cabbage
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- pinch of baking soda (about a ⅛ tsp)
- More water or broth if needed
Instructions
- In a large pot, saute onion, carrot and garlic for two minutes, add ground beef and salt and pepper, cook until meat is no longer pink.
- Add crushed tomatoes, broth or stock and water.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, and chili powder Bring to a boil and then add rice. Simmer for 20 minutes uncovered. Add cabbage, brown sugar and baking soda...also add more liquid at this point if soup is getting too thick as the rice absorbs moisture. Taste it to see if you need to add plain water or broth...if the flavor is really strong add water instead of broth.
- Cover and cook until cabbage is tender. Add more salt and pepper if necessary and serve with crackers or rolls.
Maria, I’m not sure that they’re eating this in Warsaw or Kiev, but I can say that the soup tastes “bardzo smaczna” (really good). Thank you for inserting a dish with an Eastern European twist into our family menu.
You mean they’re not eating it there yet….right? Glad that it gets your stamp of approval. 🙂
i made this soup and it was so delicious…. I substituted quinoa in place of the rice! Oh man!!! Delish!
What a great idea! I’m totally trying that. Thanks Sara!
good tip to use quinoa – thanks Sara
I sometimes use about a pound of small diced red or yellow potatoes instead of the rice. Just for a change up and it turns out good.
Love that idea! Thanks
I’m going to make this soup tomorrow. Just curious though, why the baking soda?
Hi Carol, It takes the acidic taste out of the tomatoes and makes them a little sweeter, gives the taste of being cooked down but happens in seconds. It’s pretty cool.
Yes, I was wondering about the soda myself and my mom used a pinch of sugar, does the same thing. Thanks!
Sugar can help enhance the flavor too but the soda actually releases some of the acidity in the tomatoes.
Could u use the baking soda in chili and spaghetti sauce?? I always use sugar to take the acid tatste away.
Yes, I have done it before, just start with a little bit, because if you go to far you can’t get the tomato tang back. I would start with 1/8-1/4 tsp.
I’ve also use mince carrots to neutralize the acid ìn my spaghetti sauce. Once they cook a little…you don’t even know they’re in the sauce.
Can’t wait to try the meatloaf recipe and the cabbage roll soup!!
You’ll love them both Pat! 🙂
Love, love, love this recipe!!! My husband had a soup similar to this at a Jewish deli and found your recipe thinking the ingredients looked like what he enjoyed at that deli. Boy, we weren’t disappointed! This is amazingly yummy!!!
Hi Susan! This comment totally made my day! So glad your husband found the recipe and you guys are able to enjoy the soup whenever you want now.