Best Cabbage Roll Soup – Gluten Free

I can’t tell you how excited I am to share this Cabbage Roll Soup recipe. This nutritious soup is so good, and it can easily replace cabbage rolls.

The exceptionally delicious flavor in this soup comes from lean ground beef, grated sweet potatoes, bell peppers, cabbage wedges, crushed tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices.

Why add grains to cabbage roll soup?

As with many cabbage roll recipes, the one ingredient that is often added is rice. In this hearty soup recipe, you have a choice to add rice or a superfood called quinoa.

Both ingredients work exceptionally well in this cabbage roll soup recipe.  And by adding a handful of rice or quinoa,  the cabbage soup becomes heartier, healthier and satisfying even for big appetites.

the cabbage roll soup with extra veggies

This naturally gluten-free soup recipe is not the classic full-on tomato sauce cabbage roll soup. And, there is no added sugar.

But there are extra veggies! The sweet potato grated into the soup adds natural sweetness, flavor and healthiness.

The bell peppers add a unique taste that goes exceptionally well with the cabbage and tomatoes.

And by replacing the tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes, the soup has just a hint of tomato. Let us be serious – this is not tomato soup!

keeping the soup low-carb

If you want to keep this a low-carb soup, you can skip the rice or quinoa altogether. Instead, replace the grains with grated zucchini or mushrooms.

How to make best cabbage roll soup?

Let’s be clear, this soup is not about chopping the wedgies and throwing everything together to cook. This is the reason why I stand behind saying this is the Best Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe.

STEP ONE

Brown the beef

To start, the beef has to be browned. To do this, ensure the oil is hot before adding the meat. I always bring my ground beef to room temperature before cooking. This will make it easier to break up the meat while it is browning.

The browned beef sets the rich beefy flavour that makes this cabbage roll soup so flavorful.

STEP TWO

Add the spices.

Once the beef is browned, add the spices, bell peppers, and grated sweet potatoes and generously season with salt.

I do not add salt until this point. If you add salt to the beef while it is browning, it will release moisture, and the meat will take longer to brown.

STEP THREE

Add liquids and cabbage wedges.

Next come the crushed tomatoes, water, apple cider vinegar and cabbage wedges.

It is essential to place the wedges on top of the soup and not mix them into the soup. This way, they will hold their shape and look beautiful for presentation.

STEP FOUR

Add grains.

If you are adding rice or quinoa, now is the time to do it. Sprinkle the rice or quinoa over the cabbage, and using a spoon, gently immerse into the soup—cover and cook for additional 10 minutes.

Then, rest the soup for 15 minutes allowing the rice or quinoa to finish cooking in the hot sauce.

I do not add the grains into the soup at the beginning because they will become mushy and fill the soup with starch.

The rice or quinoa should have a firm to bite texture, making them super tasty because they absorb the soup’s flavorful broth.

SERVING

The soup has everything. Tender beef, veggies, perfect cabbage wedges, delicious broth and grains cooked to perfection.

When serving the soup, carefully place a cabbage wedge or two in a bowl, add the meaty vegetable broth and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

I often like adding thick Greek yogurt or light sour cream to the soup. The creaminess adds extra richness and makes the soup insanely good!

What to serve with cabbage roll soup?

Cabbage roll soup is super hearty, so you don’t need to add anything to make it a complete meal. However, a robust, healthy soup always goes well with a slice of cruusty gluten-free French bread, or gluten-free homemade Italian bread.

storing cabbage roll soup

Here are some guidelines to ensure proper storage and maintain the soup’s quality:

Cooling:

Allow the cabbage roll soup to cool to room temperature before storing it. This helps prevent condensation inside the storage container, which can lead to bacterial growth.

Storage Container:

Use airtight containers, preferably glass.

Refrigeration:

Store the cabbage roll soup in the refrigerator if you plan to consume it within a few days. Cabbage roll soup will keep up to 5 days when refrigerated.

Freezing (For Longer Storage):

If you want to store the soup for an extended period, consider freezing it. Ladle the soup into airtight freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. The soup will keep up to 3 months when frozen.

Thawing and Reheating:

When ready to use frozen soup, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the soup thoroughly on the stovetop or microwave, ensuring it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Next time you crave Hungarian cabbage rolls, give this healthy soup a try. I promise you may never go back to making cabbage rolls. Enjoy!

Let’s Connect!

Meet Kristina. Passionate about creating delicious, innovative gluten free recipes, and author of two gluten free cookbooks, “Entertaining The Gluten Free Way” and “Small Bites The Gluten Free Way”.

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Many thanks!

Kristina x