The cabbage soup diet recipe is a simple recipe that features a vegetable soup and gained popularity as a brief weight-loss diet. The original recipe calls for cabbage, onions, tomatoes, celery, peppers, and broth. The soup simmers until the veggies are tender and the broth is flavourful.

The classic plan has been represented in numerous forms through the years. Ingredients and serving directions may vary. The purpose of this recipe is to emphasize the vegetable soup and not the concept of setting up a strict 7-day diet plan. According to Food Network, cabbage soup is a component of a previous cabbage soup diet that Food Network says is a 1990s weight loss trend.

Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe: Ingredients and Cooking Method

This is an original cabbage soup diet recipe that can feed 8 people. It’s great for making soups, as the soup doesn’t become mushy or lose its flavor after refrigeration.

Ingredients

• 1 small head green cabbage, about 2 pounds
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 2 green bell peppers, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Can Crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon of salt or to taste
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

How Should You Prepare the Vegetables?

First, remove all the outer bad leaves of the cabbage. Divide the cabbage into quarters and discard the hard core. Cut the cabbage into strips.

Wash celery, carrots, peppers, and parsley. Chop the vegetables into similar-sized pieces. This will enable them to cook at about the same speed.

Not too large, the cabbage pieces should be slightly bigger than the other vegetables. They get smaller when they are cooked.

What Is the Best Way to Build the Soup’s Flavour?

In a large, heavy pot, cook the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, and bell peppers.

Cook the vegetables for 7- 8 minutes. Stir often. The onions should become soft, and the vegetables should retain some colour.

Include the garlic, oregano, basil, paprika, and black pepper. Continue cooking for 30 to 60 seconds more.

This is an important little step. It will enable the dried herbs and garlic to release their flavour before you pour in the liquid.

In a similar way, Food Network prepares the vegetables and then garnishes them with cabbage, tomatoes and broth. After that, the meal is cooked slowly until it is soft.

When Should You Add Cabbage?

Once vegetables are softened, add sliced cabbage. Mix thoroughly to ensure that the cabbage is incorporated with the vegetables.

Cook for about 3-5 minutes. The cabbage will begin to wilt and shrink.

Don’t worry if the pot already appears to be full. Cabbage is very watery and loses a lot of water when cooked.

Add the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and water. Stir everything together.

Heat to a simmer.

How Long Should Cabbage Soup Cook?

Once the soup reaches a boiling point, reduce the temperature to low. Cover and cook for 30-45 minutes on a low to medium heat.

Stir the soup every 10-15 minutes. Monitor the cabbage and carrots for cooking.

The vegetables should be tender, but not mushy. Although plump, the cabbage shouldn’t be too hard to bite into.

When adding cabbage, tomatoes, and broth, Food Network’s recipe calls for a 30-45 minute simmer.

For a more developed flavour, you can simmer the soup for up to 60 minutes on low heat. If it becomes too dry, add a bit of water or broth to the mixture.

How Do You Know When the Soup is Ready?

Poke a fork into the thickest parts of carrots and cabbage strips. They should be feeling tender.

Taste the broth before serving. Sprinkle in extra black pepper, herbs, or a little salt, if necessary.

Remove heat and add some new parsley. Allow to cool slightly before serving (approximately 5 minutes).

This will give the flavours an opportunity to settle down for a brief rest period.

What Do You Add for Extra Protein?

The traditional versions tend to be based on vegetables and have relatively low protein levels. The protein content of this vegetable version is about 4–5 grams per serving, depending on the vegetables and broth used.

Add a separate protein source, not change the basic soup, for a more filling meal. Cooked beans or lentils, tofu, lean chicken, or turkey are good choices.

This is also consistent with Mayo Clinic’s general healthy eating guidelines, which include beans, lentils, soy, and lean meats as part of a well-balanced diet.

Can You Make This Cabbage Diet Soup Ahead?

Yes. This cabbage diet soup recipe is easy to make in batches.

Cook the whole pot, cool quickly, and portion into shallow containers. Cool and refrigerate portions; don’t allow the whole pot to cool down slowly.

USDA suggests cooling leftovers within two hours and consuming most cooked food leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Soup can also be frozen for extended storage.

Divide soup into individual cups for busy weekdays. Reheat only as much as needed.

How Should You Reheat Cabbage Soup?

Add one serving to a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir a little until the soup is steaming hot.

It is also possible to use a bowl that is microwave-safe. Cover and cook in brief periods, stirring between each period.

Freeze the soup; thaw it in the refrigerator if possible. If soup thickens after freezing, add broth or water to loosen it.

Is the Cabbage Soup Diet a Long-Term Diet?

The soup can be a part of a balanced diet plan; however, the cabbage soup diet shouldn’t be the sole diet for extended durations.

Cabbage soup is a trendy diet, according to Mayo Clinic, and calorie deprivation is hard to sustain over the long term. Veggies, whole grains, protein, and other healthy foods are typical ingredients of sustainable eating.

This is a practical approach to get more vegetables into the diet: a soup. It’s important to view it as a single meal, not a magic food for weight loss.

Lastly

For a simple dinnertime meal on a weekday, serve one bowl of beans, lentils, tofu, or another protein source. The soup also makes a nice appetizer before a meal.

The cabbage soup diet recipe is simple to create, as most of the work in the recipe is chopping vegetables and letting the pot simmer. Don’t overcook; taste as it cooks and add seasoning at the end for the best home-cooked experience.