Cabbage and Sausage Soup 🥣🌭🥬

This Cabbage and Sausage Soup is a cozy, hearty one-pot meal filled with smoky sausage, tender cabbage, vegetables, and a flavorful broth. It’s budget-friendly, comforting, and perfect for a chilly day.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

Soup

• 1½ lbs (680 g) smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 (14.5 oz / 410 g) can diced tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper

Garnish

• Fresh parsley
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Crusty bread for serving

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Instructions

1. Brown the Sausage

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
2. Add sliced sausage and cook for 4–5 minutes until lightly browned.
3. Remove sausage and set aside.

2. Sauté the Vegetables

Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot.

Cook for 5–6 minutes until softened.

Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

3. Build the Soup

Add:

• Cabbage
• Potatoes
• Diced tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Chicken broth
• Smoked paprika
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Bay leaves
• Black pepper

Return the sausage to the pot.

4. Simmer

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.

Cover and simmer for 35–45 minutes, until:

• Cabbage is tender
• Potatoes are cooked through
• Flavors have blended

Remove bay leaves before serving.

5. Finish

Taste and adjust seasoning.

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

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Variations

🥓 Bacon Cabbage Soup

Add cooked bacon pieces for a smoky, richer flavor.

🍅 Tomato-Based Version

Add extra crushed tomatoes for a thicker, stew-like soup.

🌶 Spicy Sausage Soup

Use hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes.

🥬 Low-Carb Version

Replace potatoes with:

• Cauliflower florets
• Turnips
• Zucchini

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Slow Cooker Version

1. Brown sausage (optional but recommended).
2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
3. Cook:
   • LOW: 6–8 hours
   • HIGH: 3–4 hours
4. Add cabbage during the last hour for a firmer texture.

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Tips for the Best Cabbage and Sausage Soup

• Smoked kielbasa gives the soup a deep, savory flavor.
• Slice cabbage into bite-sized pieces so it’s easy to eat.
• The soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors develop.
• Serve with warm bread to soak up the flavorful broth.

Perfect Pairings: garlic bread, cornbread, rye bread, a simple green salad, or roasted vegetables. 🥣✨