Description
A hearty and wholesome Mennonite cabbage soup made with ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a savory broth. This budget-friendly recipe is perfect for comforting weeknight meals and can be optionally enhanced with cooked rice and served with sour cream or plain yogurt.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or canola oil)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef (or diced leftover cooked beef)
- 1 medium head of cabbage, cored and shredded
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cooked rice
- Sour cream or plain yogurt for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Then add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to develop flavor.
- Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess grease to keep the soup from being too oily.
- Add Cabbage: Stir in the shredded cabbage and cook until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes, allowing it to wilt and reduce in volume slightly.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add diced carrots, diced celery, beef broth, diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce, dried thyme, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer the Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to blend flavors.
- Optional Rice Addition: If using cooked rice, add it during the last 5 minutes of cooking to warm through without overcooking.
- Finish and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, topped with sour cream or plain yogurt if desired to add creaminess.
Notes
- This soup is an economical and filling meal, great for budget-friendly weeknights.
- Using leftover cooked beef is a convenient variation that saves prep time.
- Adding cooked rice makes the soup more substantial and can utilize leftovers.
- Garnishing with sour cream or plain yogurt provides a creamy contrast to the savory broth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mennonite
Keywords: Mennonite cabbage soup, hearty soup, ground beef soup, budget-friendly soup, comforting soup, cabbage soup recipe
