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Stuffed Cabbage Soup (Stove or Pressure Cooker) Recipe

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3.8 from 10 reviews

A hearty and comforting Stuffed Cabbage Soup made with a flavorful mix of ground meat, cabbage, tomatoes, and spices. This recipe offers two cooking options—stovetop or pressure cooker—for a delicious and satisfying meal perfect for any day.

Ingredients

Vegetables

  • 2 medium onions
  • 1 large carrot
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 ½ lbs white cabbage (700g), chopped

Meat

  • 1 ½ lbs ground meat (650g; mix of beef and pork recommended)

Liquids and Sauces

  • 1 jar tomato passata (24 fl oz / 680ml) or 2 cans (14 oz / 400ml each) crushed tomatoes
  • 7 cups water or vegetable/chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Grains

  • 1 cup rice (7 oz / 200g)
  • 2 cups water (for cooking rice separately)

Oils and Fats

  • 3 tablespoons frying oil (divided)

Spices and Seasonings

  • 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Herbs

  • 2 tablespoons chopped dill or parsley

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vegetables: Dice the onions and carrot, finely chop the garlic without pressing, and chop the cabbage appropriately—1-inch pieces for young cabbage or smaller pieces for winter cabbage, adjusting for tougher parts.
  2. Brown the meat: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat in a large pot (or use the sauté setting on a pressure cooker). Add ground meat in an even layer, do not stir for 1-2 minutes to brown, then cook while stirring until fully cooked. Transfer meat to a plate.
  3. Sauté vegetables and spices: Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pot. Add onions and carrots, cooking over medium heat for about 5 minutes until onions soften. Add paprika, thyme, oregano, garlic, and cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
  4. Add main ingredients back: Return meat to pot. Stir in tomato paste, tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes), chopped cabbage, and 7 cups water or broth. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
  5. Cook soup (stovetop method): Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 50 minutes, until cabbage is tender.
  6. Cook rice separately: In a medium pot, combine 1 cup rice and 2 cups water, season with salt, cover, bring to a boil, then simmer on very low heat for 15 minutes until fully cooked.
  7. Season and serve: Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar to taste. Ladle soup into bowls, add cooked rice, and stir in chopped dill or parsley before serving.
  8. Optional combined rice cooking: Alternatively, simmer soup for 30 minutes, then add rice and 2 cups water to the pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 more minutes. Season as above before serving.
  9. Pressure cooker method: Follow steps 1 through 4. Then cover and lock the lid, seal the steam valve, cancel sauté mode, and pressure cook on manual for 15 minutes. Perform a quick release when cooking is complete.
  10. Finish pressure cooker soup: Cook rice separately as before. Season the soup after pressure cooking with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Serve with rice and garnish with chopped dill or parsley.
  11. Enjoy: Serve hot and enjoy this comforting and filling stuffed cabbage soup.

Notes

  • Cabbage size and type affect cooking time and chopping size; adjust accordingly for best texture.
  • You can use either tomato passata or crushed tomatoes depending on availability.
  • Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar balance acidity and add depth to the soup.
  • Cooking rice separately keeps it fluffy; however, it can be cooked directly in the soup by adding it later during simmering.
  • For a leaner option, substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of beef and pork.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper for preferred spice level or omit if sensitive to heat.
  • If using vegetable broth, the soup is suitable for a halal diet if meat substitutes comply.
  • This soup freezes well for meal prep; cool completely before storing.
  • Pressure cooker times assume a standard electric model; adjust if using stovetop or different brands.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/stuffed-cabbage-soup-stove-or-pressure-cooker-recipe/