Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (2024)

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (1)

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef, ground turkey, or sausage – or a mix between them all.
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 small head cabbage, chopped
2 (14.5 ounces) cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 (6 ounces) can tomato paste
6 oz water (or part vegetable or broth for more flavor)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional for extra spice:
1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
1 teaspoon Cumin
A few leaves of chopped fresh basil

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe Instructions

Here are the instructions and steps for the unstuffed cabbage soup!

Heat a Dutch oven or extra-large skillet over medium-high heat.
Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil and cook the onions until translucent. Cook beef or turkey meat and onion in the hot Dutch oven until browned.
Drain and discard grease.
Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, cumin, and fresh basil. I found by using the fire-roasted tomatoes it made a huge difference in taste.
Bring the ingredients to a boil.
Cover Dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender. This will take about 30 minutes. Note: It may seem like you don’t have enough water at first but when the cabbage cooks down it will be perfect

Get the printable recipe below!

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

There are tons of healthy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipes out there or cabbage roll soups, but I ended up making mine with a bit more spice to bring it to a whole new level. Not only that but I am trying to eat more of the superfoods like cabbage. In fact, I was just reading on Wiki that studies show cabbage has protective effects against colon cancer amongst many other diseases. Cabbage is also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and folate. So you may as well make an awesome recipe with something that is really good for you right?!

There are few “healthy” recipes that the whole family agrees upon but this is one they all like. If you don’t like spice, I suggest not adding the crushed red pepper. It’s not too spicy but the kids will notice it.

Recipe Notes for Unstuffed Cabbage:

This recipe has been extremely popular and lots of readers have commented on different spices they have used to make it even better. Here are some suggestions I’ve received:

add a little brown sugar, celery seed with some crushed red pepper. (not for keto of course)
Add 1Tbs of Worcestershire sauce ….. I PROMISE it makes the whole dish taste very different and worth it!

I always make a huge batch of this dish because it gets devoured in no time. My Cuisinart 6 quart pot is the best!!

You might also be interested in this Keto Chicken Parmesan Recipe that’s made in a slow cooker! It’s totally delicious and super easy to make.

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe Nutrition

Serves 8

Calories 161, Total C 3.2g, Fiber 1.2g, Net C 2g, Sugars 1.8g, Fat 4.6g, Protein 25.5g

If you’ve tried a new spice variation leave a comment below! I would love to hear about it. This stuffed cabbage soup is so simple to make, the whole family will love it. This is our favorite healthy cabbage recipes we make all the time in the cooler months of the year.

On the search for more dinner recipes

Chile Relleno Casserole
Keto Taco Casserole
Big Mac Cheeseburger Casserole

Healthy Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe

Make a delicious meal with just a few ingredients.

4.38 from 56 votes

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Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef ground turkey, or sausage – or a mix between them all.
1 large yellow onion chopped
1 small head cabbage chopped
2 14.5 ounces cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 6 ounces can tomato paste
6 oz water or part vegetable or broth for more flavor
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional for extra spice:
1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
1 teaspoon Cumin
A few leaves of chopped fresh basil

Instructions

Heat a Dutch oven or extra large skillet over medium-high heat.
Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil and cook the onions until translucent. Cook beef or turkey meat and onion in the hot Dutch oven until browned.
Drain and discard grease.
Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, cumin, and fresh basil. I found by using the fire roasted tomatoes it made a huge difference in taste.
Bring the ingredients to a boil.
Cover Dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender. This will take about 30 minutes.
(Note: It may seem like you don’t have enough water at first but when the cabbage cooks down it will be perfect)

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy.

Tried this recipe? Mention @ISaveA2Z or tag #KetoFriendlyRecipes!

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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (4)

Have you tried cabbage roll soup yet?

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cabbage tough on my cabbage rolls? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Get More Info ›

What to do with tough cabbage? ›

Make stuffed cabbage

Common in the cuisines of Central and Eastern Europe, according to The Spruce Eats, stuffed cabbage — or cabbage rolls — is an ideal way to use up outer cabbage leaves because the dish braises for quite some time, allowing the tough leaves to become tender.

Get More Info ›

How long does cabbage take to soften? ›

How to boil cabbage. Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender.

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What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long.

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Who should not do the cabbage soup diet? ›

While there is no research on the Cabbage Soup Diet, very low calorie diets may be unsafe for certain people. These can include: pregnant people. people who are nursing.

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Does cabbage soup burn belly fat? ›

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the cabbage soup diet is safe or effective for weight loss. No health authorities recommend following the diet. Proponents of the cabbage soup diet also encourage people not to exercise while following it.

What does cabbage soup do to your body? ›

The cabbage soup diet stimulates the body's metabolism and fat mobilization. This diet limits your calorie intake and causes your body to burn fat for energy. Low sodium, low calories, and high fiber allow you to lose weight faster if you followed a reasonable long-term dietary plan.

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What is cabbage roll sauce made of? ›

For the Sauce

1/4 cup butter.
1 large white onion, coarsely chopped.
1/4 cup water.
1 clove garlic.
1/4 cup all-purpose flour.
2 cups tomato sauce.
1/2 cup heavy cream.
1/2 cup chicken stock.

More items...

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

If you want to make stuffed cabbage leaves, you don't have to cook the leaves to make them pliable. It's a lot easier just to freeze the cabbage—an added benefit is it doesn't stink up your house.

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Can you overcook cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

Read On ›

Can you cook cabbage too long? ›

Boiled cabbage is notoriously smelly and steaming is often thought of as a less aromatic way to cook the vegetable. However, the pungent smell is actually the result of overcooking. Boil it just until tender, and you won't have a stinky kitchen.

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Why is my cabbage bitter after cooking? ›

When plant cells are broken, the oils are separated from the sugar molecules by an enzyme and released as a very bitter compound. It's a clever defense mechanism for the cabbage plant to discourage hungry foragers.

View Details ›

Why is my stuffed cabbage meat tough? ›

If your cabbage rolls are too tough, it means that you have not cooked them long enough. My method to start with, letting the cabbage sit overnight, starts to get the cabbage nice and soft.