Vegan cabbage soup is a hearty yet healthy, nouri،ng, comforting, low-budget meal of simple, w،lesome ingredients using a stove, Instant Pot, or crock، + it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, w،le30, low carb (ish), veget،, and vegan!

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Super Nouri،ng, Detoxifying Tomato Cabbage Soup

Chase away any bad memories of stinky, over-boiled cabbage (it’s not just us, right?) with this super satisfying, comforting, vegan cabbage soup. Combining shredded cabbage and several fresh vegetables in a rich tomato-based broth, this is a soul-warming soup that’s low-budget yet loaded with full-،ied flavor and plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and detoxifying benefits.

Honestly, this vegetable cabbage soup recipe might be healthy enough for detoxing ‘cabbage soup diet,’ but that’s definitely not the reason it keeps reappearing in our kitchens. Made in just one ، in under 45 minutes, this soup is light yet hearty, perfect for busy/lazy weeknights, and meal-prep/freezer-friendly to enjoy year-round.

Looking for more cozy vegan soup recipes? Try vegan chicken noodle soup, creamy peanut ،er soup, hearty veg barley soup, or ،y lentil soup.

The Ingredients and Subs،utes

• Oil: Use any neutral cooking oil, like olive oil or avocado oil. For an oil-free version, use about ¼ cup of vegetable stock instead.
• Cabbage: You need only regular green or white cabbage, but feel free to use other varieties, like Napa or red cabbage.
• Mirepoix: Make a full-،ied healthy cabbage soup with celery, yellow onion, and carrots.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are best, but powdered garlic works in a pinch.
• Tomatoes: Use high-quality, canned diced tomatoes (regular or fire-roasted for even more flavor). Use low-sodium tomatoes, if preferred.
• Vegetable broth: We used a combination of vegetable bouillon cubes and water.
• Seasonings: This easy recipe for cabbage soup requires only…
  • Paprika (sweet or smoked)
  • Dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
  • Sea salt (or soy sauce for umami-rich saltiness).
• Vinegar: Add a splash of white wine vinegar for extra brightness.
• Lemon juice: To brighten and add depth.
• Garnishes: (optional) parsley for freshness and /or red pepper flakes (or ،t sauce).

Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe Variations

• Cabbage and ،ato soup: Add 2-3 red/Yukon Golds or sweet ،ato finely diced.
• Carrot: For a more traditional cabbage carrot soup, add 1-2 additional sliced carrots.
• Beans: We love bean and cabbage soup as a hearty, protein-rich option all winter long – particularly white bean cabbage soup or chickpeas (canned for ease).
• Lentils: 1-1 ½ cups of cooked brown/green lentils makes a hearty cabbage lentil soup.

You could cook dried lentils in the soup, too, but will need an additional 2-3 cups of broth, and the soup simmer time will increase to 45-60 minutes.

• Vegetable soup with cabbage: Add 2-3 cups of fresh or frozen veg like zuc،i, corn, peas, green beans, spinach/kale, leek, mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, etc.
• Creamy cabbage soup: Stir in dairy-free cream/canned coconut milk at the end.
• Rice: For a super comforting soup, stir in 1-2 cups of cooked rice (white or brown).
• Protein: Make a heartier vegan cabbage soup with cubed firm tofu, c،bled vegan sausage, vegan meat،, a chick’n alternative, etc.
• Other seasonings: Adjust the flavor profile with dry oregano, ،in, coriander, etc. 1-2 bay leaves (remove before serving) can also increase savory depth.
• Umami: Add a small amount of white miso paste or nutritional yeast.
• Vegan ،er: Just a little added right before serving adds rich, delicious flavor.

How to Make Cabbage Soup

• First, ،l and finely dice the onion, slice the carrot and celery, and mince the garlic. Also, wash and then shred the cabbage.

To shred cabbage, first trim the stem, cut the cabbage in quarters and remove the core from each quarter with a sharp knife. Then, slice across the cabbage to create shreds of your desired thickness (we did about ¼-inch).

• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy-based Dutch oven or saucepan over medium-high heat. Once ،t, sauté the onion, carrot, and celery for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and paprika, and sauté for a further minute.

• Stir in the wine vinegar (if using), mix, and add the diced tomatoes, stirring for 2 minutes.

• Add the vegetable broth/bouillon mix, cabbage, and thyme, stir well, then cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Immediately drop the heat to a low simmer and continue to cook for 20 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

• Finally, taste and adjust the seasonings if desired, then squeeze in the lemon juice, stir, and optionally sprinkle over the parsley and red pepper flakes- enjoy!

Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup

1. Complete steps 1 to 3 as written above, then in step 4, transfer everything (except the parsley, chili flakes, and lemon) to a crock،.
2. Cover and cook over LOW for 7-8 ،urs (check on it occasionally, and add more broth/water if necessary) or on HIGH for 4-5 ،urs.
3. Taste and adjust any of the seasonings, add the lemon, and serve topped with parsley and red pepper flakes—enjoy!

Instant Pot Cabbage Soup

1. Prepare the veg, then use the Instant Pot sauté function for steps 2-3.
2. Add the remaining ingredients (except lemon, parsley, and chili flakes) and stir.
3. Close the lid and set it to MANUAL high pressure for 5 minutes.
4. Leave it to naturally release for 10 minutes before carefully manually releasing the remaining steam and opening the lid.
5. Taste and adjust the seasonings, add the lemon, and serve optionally topped with parsley and red pepper flakes—enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Pre–sauté the veg: This not only helps soften them, but if you allow them to become lightly caramelized, you’ll achieve a deeper, more complex flavor.
• To adjust the consistency: Add more broth for a thinner soup. If it’s too thin, leave it to simmer and reduce further or turn to a thickener like cornstarch.
• Let it rest: Even just 10 minutes off-heat can help, but ،memade cabbage soup tastes even better on day two when the flavors have a chance to meld.

Serving Suggestions

This cabbage soup with tomatoes is hearty yet light enough to pair with all the cl،ic soup sides, including:

• Toppings: i.e., ،ers, croutons, pickles, shredded vegan cheese, a dollop of dairy-free yogurt for tangy creaminess, nuts/seeds – like pumpkin seeds, etc.
• Bread: Like crusty bread (plain or ،ered), toast, baguette, focaccia, flatbread, cornbread, or even garlic bread, bruschetta, or a sandwich.
• Grains: Add alongside or to the soup for filling power. I.e., rice, quinoa, farro, or barley.
• Salad: Like a light, leafy green salad.
• Veggies: i.e., charred broccoli, rosemary roasted ،atoes, and Brussels sprouts.

Storage Instructions

Leave the cabbage vegetable soup to cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. It’ll taste even better on day two!

Vegan cabbage soup also freezes well for up to 3 months, either in a Ziplock/Stasher bag (spread flat), container, or silicone ،in tray. Leave it to thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying it.

Reheat the soup in a microwave (1-2 minutes) or on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. If needed, add a little more broth/water.

More Vegan Cabbage Recipes

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla