Hearty Cabbage and Ground Beef Soup

Hearty Cabbage and Ground Beef Soup

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Servings: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 medium head of green cabbage, chopped

• 1 lb (about 500g) ground beef

• 1 large yellow onion, diced

• 2 large carrots, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 cups beef or vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste (for a richer, slightly red broth)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prep the Cabbage: Wash the head of cabbage thoroughly, remove any tough outer leaves, cut it in half, remove the core, and roughly chop it into bite-sized pieces.

2. Brown the Meat: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if desired.

3. Sauté the Aromatics: Lower the heat to medium. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions are soft and fragrant.

4. Wilt the Cabbage: Add the chopped cabbage to the pot. Stir well to combine it with the ground beef. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the cabbage begins to soften and reduce in volume.

5. Simmer the Soup: Stir in the chopped carrots, tomato paste, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour in the broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

6. Finish and Serve: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the carrots and cabbage are completely tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve hot.