Description
Comforting Creamy Cabbage Soup brings hearty warmth to winter dinner tables with its silky texture and rich flavors. Polish culinary traditions shine through this simple yet satisfying recipe, inviting you to savor each spoonful of pure homestyle goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 head cabbage
- 2 medium onions
- 3 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 garlic cloves
Protein and Dairy:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare all vegetables by thoroughly washing and chopping cabbage, onions, carrots, and celery into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then sauté onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add chopped carrots and celery to the pot, stirring continuously and cooking for an additional 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- Incorporate chopped cabbage into the vegetable mixture, stirring to combine and allowing it to wilt and release moisture for about 7-8 minutes.
- Pour chicken or vegetable broth into the pot, add bay leaf, salt, and black pepper, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer for 20-25 minutes, allowing vegetables to become tender and flavors to meld together.
- Remove bay leaf, then stir in heavy cream and butter, creating a rich and velvety consistency.
- Allow soup to simmer for an additional 3-4 minutes after adding cream, ensuring it is heated through but not boiling.
- Finish the soup by stirring in sour cream and garnishing with freshly chopped parsley just before serving.
- Ladle into warm bowls and serve immediately for optimal flavor and temperature.
Notes
- Chopping vegetables uniformly ensures even cooking and prevents some pieces from being undercooked or overcooked.
- Sautéing onions and garlic slowly develops a deeper, richer flavor base for the soup.
- For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk to reduce calories and fat content.
- Vegetarian option works perfectly by swapping chicken broth with vegetable broth and adding extra herbs like thyme or rosemary for depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 38-43 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg