While we tend to choose lighter dishes in the summer, delicious stews and soups taste especially good 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 it is hard to imagine our table without them. In today’s article, we would like to introduce you to another German classic from our childhood, and that is our best cabbage soup recipe. Grandma’s style, French cabbage soup or from the Thermomix – the variety of cabbage soup variants is really large 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 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, folic acid, potassium and selenium during the cold season. It also strengthens our immune system, has an anti-inflammatory effect and achieves scores with only 22 calories per 100 grams. The 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 said to help us lose 10 to 15 pounds in no time. This is because the body has to work harder to digest the fiber-rich ingredients and vegetables, thereby burning more calories than it takes in. Although the cabbage soup is healthy, the diet is very strict and the daily calorie intake very low. As you know, such crash diets are not recommended and you should focus on a balanced diet instead.
The best recipe for grandma’s cabbage soup
Whether it’s a juicy skyr cake or quick 3-ingredient snacks – as amateur cooks we love trying out new dishes. But even classics, like our recipe for grandma’s cabbage soup, taste delicious and bring back good childhood memories. Full of flavor and irresistibly delicious – perfect for a light dinner!
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cube of beef stock
- 250 grams of soup meat – breast
- 1 liter of water
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 1 bunch green soup, washed and roughly chopped
- salt and pepper
Cabbage Soup:
- 1 small head of white cabbage
- 1 small onion
- 300 grams of tomatoes, peeled
- 3 Vienna sausages or Mettendchen
- 30 grams of butter
- 100 grams cooked ham (optional, but recommended)
- 2 bay leaves, dried
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons of sugar or honey
- A little fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- For the meat stock, boil the water with the beef stock and add the vegetables, onions and beef brisket.
- Season with salt and pepper, lower the heat and simmer covered for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Saute onion with sugar and bay leaves for 15 minutes until translucent.
- Add the cooked ham, tomatoes and cumin and simmer in the uncovered pot for another 15 minutes.
- Then add some of the meat stock and let it simmer for another 30 minutes.
- Clean the cabbage thoroughly, remove the stem and cut into thin strips.
- Strain the broth through a strainer and collect the liquid. Roughly chop the breast meat.
- Bring the beef stock to the boil and cook with the white cabbage, beef breast, sausage 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 you like. And voilà – this is the best recipe for Grandma’s Cabbage Soup!
French Cabbage Soup à la “Louis de Funes”
Do you want to cook something really nice and special for dinner? Then you should definitely remember our recipe for French cabbage soup à la Louis de Funes! The classic was made famous by the film “La soup auc choux”, in German “Louis and his extraterrestrial cabbages” and has been enjoying increasing popularity ever since. However, the film does not provide the recipe for cabbage soup, leaving plenty of room for your own experiments.
Ingredients:
- 1 large white cabbage
- 300 grams of beef thigh slice
- 200 grams of smoked bacon
- 500 grams of potatoes, roughly diced
- 500 grams of onions, finely chopped
- 300 grams of carrots, cut into small pieces
- 7 garlic cloves
- 1 small tomato
- 1 piece of French 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 stem and the outer leaves and cut into small pieces.
- Pour the water and cabbage into the saucepan and bring to the boil.
- Add onions, carrots and shank, reduce 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 the bread and enjoy!
Cabbage soup recipe for weight loss
Do you want to lose a few more kilos? Then you will love our weight loss cabbage soup recipe! With only 150 calories per serving and still very tasty – perfect for a light and low calorie dinner! And the best? Feel free to experiment with the ingredients and use other vegetables of your choice.
Ingredients for 8 servings:
- 1 medium head of white cabbage
- 1 bunch of celery, finely chopped
- 2 red peppers, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped small
- 1 large onion, diced
- 100 grams of green beans
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 liters of water
- salt and pepper
Preparation:
- Heat olive oil in a large over medium-high heat.
- Saute onions, carrots, peppers and celery for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the 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 weight loss is ready!
Lentil soup with quinoa and 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 fall meal!
Ingredients:
- 1 medium head of white cabbage
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped small
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 150 grams of lentils
- 90 grams of quinoa
- 1 liter of water
- 2 tablespoons of 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 saucepan over medium-high heat and sauté onions and garlic for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cabbage and cook for another 5 minutes until soft.
- Add lentils and water and bring to the boil.
- Lower 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 you like, and enjoy!
