Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup (Print Version)

Hearty Eastern European soup with beef, cabbage, and rice in rich tomato broth

# Recipe Ingredients:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 cups green cabbage, chopped (about 1 small head)
05 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced

→ Grains

07 - 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

→ Liquids

08 - 6 cups beef broth (use gluten-free if needed)
09 - 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
10 - 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 tsp paprika
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
17 - 1 tsp salt (or to taste)

→ Optional Garnishes

18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Sour cream, for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in the chopped cabbage and cook for another 2–3 minutes until slightly wilted.
04 - Add the rice, beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everyone assumes you spent all day cooking, but you know it took less than an hour
  • The cabbage gets tender without any tricky rolling or tucking
  • Leftovers somehow taste better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so leftovers will be much thicker
  • Taste your broth before adding salt, since some brands are already quite salty
  • Sour cream might curdle if you stir it directly into the hot soup, so let everyone add their own at the table
03 -
  • Add a splash of vinegar at the end to brighten all the flavors if it tastes too heavy
  • Fire-roasted diced tomatoes add a smoky depth that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is

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