Description
Polish cabbage soup (kapuśniak) brings hearty comfort from traditional Eastern European kitchens. Simmering cabbage, potatoes, and smoky meat create a soul-warming bowl you’ll crave during chilly seasons.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 small green cabbage, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups (1.4 L) vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 can (14.5 oz/414 g) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Combine diced onions, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened and translucent.
- Aromatics Integration: Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds to release its intense flavor profile.
- Cabbage Infusion: Introduce shredded cabbage to the vegetable mixture, allowing it to wilt and merge with existing ingredients.
- Liquid Foundation: Pour in diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and seasonings including oregano, basil, smoked paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Flavor Development: Cover and let the soup simmer for 20-25 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and develop a rich, complex taste. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Finishing Touch: Remove bay leaf, ladle soup into serving bowls, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve with crusty bread for a complete, hearty meal experience.
Notes
- Optimize Vegetable Cutting: Uniformly dice vegetables to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Control Sautéing Temperature: Maintain medium-low heat when softening onions, carrots, and celery to prevent burning and develop deep, sweet flavor foundations.
- Manage Cabbage Wilting: Stir cabbage occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking and promote even softening without overcooking.
- Adjust Broth Consistency: Add extra vegetable broth if soup becomes too thick during simmering, maintaining a balanced liquid-to-vegetable ratio for optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg