Comforting Cabbage Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)

Light vegetable soup with cabbage, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. Perfect for healthy meal prep and body resets.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small green cabbage (about 1.5 lbs), cored and chopped
02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 1 small zucchini, diced (optional)

→ Broth and Seasonings

09 - 6 cups vegetable broth (low sodium preferred)
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
15 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for heat)
16 - Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional, for brightness)
17 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until slightly softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add bell pepper, zucchini if using, and chopped cabbage. Sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes and vegetable broth. Add thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and chili flakes if using.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until all vegetables are tender.
06 - Adjust seasoning to taste. Stir in lemon juice if desired.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's impossibly simple yet tastes like you actually know what you're doing in the kitchen.
  • Your body feels lighter and more energized after eating it, not heavy or sluggish.
  • The recipe costs pennies, stretches for days, and somehow tastes better the next morning.
02 -
  • Don't skip the initial sautéing of aromatics—it's the difference between vegetable water and actual soup with personality.
  • If your soup tastes flat at the end, it's probably salt or acid you're missing, not necessarily herbs—lemon juice is a revelation here.
03 -
  • Chop your vegetables roughly evenly so they cook at the same pace and the soup tastes balanced rather than having some bites too soft and others still firm.
  • If you're cooking for someone with a delicate stomach, this soup is genuinely gentle and nourishing in a way that feels restorative.
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