Spicy Cabbage Soup

Name: Spicy Cabbage Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra-virgin); 1 onion (large, chopped ); 4 spicy andouille sausage links (fully cooked, thinly sliced; 12 ounces total); 1 tablespoon fresh garlic (minced); 1/2 teaspoon dried coriander; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 large cabbage (shredded; 8 cups, 20 ounces); 14 ounces diced tomatoes (canned, unsalted, undrained ); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground ); 1 quart beef broth (not low-sodium)

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This thick, hearty, and spicy cabbage soup gets an extra kick from Cajun andouille sausage. While it is a wonderful first course, it is so substantial and filling that it can easily be used as the main course.

Spicy cabbage soup is served in a white bowl.

This hearty and spicy cabbage soup is a lovely way to keep warm on a cold winter night. It's rich and flavorful, and the addition of sausage turns it into a filling meal. The prep time for this soup is just 15 minutes, and then it's simmered for about 30 minutes. The leftovers are just as good as the freshly made soup!

Ingredients

You'll only need a few ingredients to make this soup. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview:

Olive oil: This is by far my favorite oil to cook with. Other options include avocado oil and ghee.
Onion: I use yellow onion, but white onion works, too. Here's a look at onion types.
Spicy andouille sausage: This is my favorite sausage, but any fully cooked sausage link will work.
Aromatocs and spices: Garlic, coriander, cumin, and black pepper.
Shredded cabbage: I sometimes make life easy by buying it already washed and shredded. But it's not difficult to shred it yourself with a sharp chef's knife like I do in this recipe for fried cabbage.
Diced tomatoes: Leave them undrained. It's best to use petite-diced tomatoes. My favorite brand is Pomi Chopped Tomatoes.
Beef broth: Not reduced sodium. Store-bought is fine!

Variations

You can cook the onions in any fat you like, including avocado oil, ghee, or bacon fat.
Smoked paprika is an excellent addition to this soup - add ½ teaspoon. I like the smoky flavor it adds.
You can omit the sausage and add small meatballs to the soup instead. Beef meatballs are especially hearty, but chicken meatballs or turkey meatballs are also good. If using cooked meatballs, they should be added to the hot soup after it has finished cooking. If they're raw, add them to the soup right before you boil it. Using tiny meatballs like these cocktail meatballs (without their sauce) is especially fun.
It's okay to replace the beef broth with chicken broth.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Your first step is to heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion. Cook until the onion is tender, stirring often. Add the sausage and cook it until lightly browned.

Add the garlic, coriander, and cumin. Cook, stirring, for just 30 seconds, until the spices are fragrant. Add the shredded cabbage in batches. Cook until the cabbage is just tender.

Stir in the tomatoes, black pepper, and beef broth. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Serve immediately. Look at this rich, comforting goodness!

Expert Tip

I prefer to use salted broth in this recipe rather than low-sodium broth, as I find low-sodium broth lacking in flavor. But you can use it if you'd like. Then, taste the soup and decide if it needs more salt.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make a vegetarian version?

Yes. Simply omit the sausage and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.

Is this soup very spicy?

It's not. If you'd like it to be extra spicy, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.

Can I freeze this soup?

Yes. I sometimes freeze individual servings in mugs and quickly reheat them (covered) in the microwave. Before placing them in the freezer, I cover the mugs with a couple of layers of plastic wrap.

Serving Suggestions

This delicious soup, containing meat and vegetables, is a complete meal. It's very filling! So there's no need to serve anything with it. But if you'd like to serve it with something on the side, good options include almond flour bread, cheese biscuits, or cornbread.

Storing Leftovers

The leftovers keep well for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. In fact, the soup gets even more flavorful the second day! I gently reheat bowls or mugs of it, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. If reheating on the stovetop, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.