🥬 Cabbage Soup
The Recipe Worth Canning – Diet Optional!
📌 In This Article
🥬 The Cabbage Soup Story
"I love the cabbage soup diet soup recipe…just not the diet. This soup cans fantastically and it's so good!!" 🥬✨
There's something wonderfully honest about that statement. The soup itself? Absolutely delicious. The diet that comes with it? Not so much. But here's the beautiful thing – you can enjoy the soup without the diet, and you can enjoy it all year long thanks to canning.
This cabbage soup is hearty, flavorful, and packed with vegetables. It's the kind of soup that warms you from the inside out, and it only gets better with time. And when you can it, you've got a pantry full of comfort ready to go whenever you need it.
💬 The best of both worlds: "I love the cabbage soup diet soup recipe…just not the diet." – Enjoy the flavor, skip the restrictions, and preserve it for later. That's the way to do it!
🌟 Why This Cabbage Soup is So Good
- 🥬 Hearty and filling: Packed with vegetables and flavor
- 🌿 Simple ingredients: Everything you already have in your kitchen
- 🎨 Customizable: Add your favorite vegetables or spices
- 💰 Cost-effective: Stretches your grocery budget
- 🥫 Cans beautifully: Perfect for pressure canning
- ❤️ Comfort food: Warms you from the inside out
📦 Ingredients
For a Big Batch of Cabbage Soup:
- 🥬 1 large head cabbage – chopped
- 🧅 2 large onions – chopped
- 🧄 4 cloves garlic – minced
- 🥕 4 large carrots – diced
- 🌿 4 celery stalks – diced
- 🍅 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
- 🥣 8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 🌿 2 teaspoons salt
- 🌿 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 🌿 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 🌿 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 🫒 2 tablespoons olive oil – for sautéing
💡 Pro tip: This soup is endlessly customizable – add green beans, zucchini, or bell peppers for even more flavor and nutrition.
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Sauté the Vegetables
- In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened – about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Step 2 – Add the Cabbage
- Add the chopped cabbage and cook until it starts to wilt – about 5 minutes.
Step 3 – Add Liquids and Seasonings
- Add the crushed tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.
Step 4 – Taste and Adjust
- Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed.
Step 5 – Serve or Can
- Serve immediately with crusty bread.
- Or prepare for pressure canning (see below).
💡 Pro tip: This soup is even better the next day – the flavors meld beautifully overnight.
🥫 Canning Guide
Why Pressure Canning is Required:
- 🦠 Cabbage soup is a low-acid food – it must be pressure canned to reach 240°F.
- ⏱️ Processing time: 60 minutes for pints at 10-11 PSI.
- 📏 Headspace: 1 inch – critical for proper sealing.
Step-by-Step Canning:
- 📦 Prepare jars: Sterilize jars and keep them hot.
- 🥣 Fill jars: Ladle hot soup into jars, leaving 1 inch headspace.
- 🧼 Remove air bubbles: Use a plastic knife to remove any bubbles.
- 🧴 Wipe rims: Clean rims thoroughly.
- 🔄 Apply lids: Center lids and screw bands fingertip-tight.
- 🔥 Process: Pressure can pints for 60 minutes at 10-11 PSI.
- ❄️ Cool: Let pressure drop naturally, then remove jars.
- ✅ Check seals: Cool for 12-24 hours and check seals.
⚠️ Critical safety note: Do not water-bath can this soup – it must be pressure canned. Do not add rice, pasta, or thickeners before canning.
🔧 Troubleshooting – What If Something Goes Wrong?
- 😟 Soup is watery: Simmer longer to reduce, or add less broth next time
- 😟 Too much liquid lost (siphoning): Too much headspace or rapid pressure change
- 😟 Jars didn't seal: Refrigerate and use within 5 days
- 😟 Bland flavor: Add more salt, pepper, or herbs – simmering concentrates flavor
- 😟 Bitter taste: Cabbage may be bitter – add a pinch of sugar to balance
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- 🍞 Crusty bread: The perfect companion for dipping
- 🧀 Grated Parmesan: Adds richness and depth
- 🌿 Fresh herbs: Top with parsley or basil
- 🥩 Add meat: Add cooked sausage or ground beef for a heartier meal
- 🍚 Add grains: Serve over rice or quinoa
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I water-bath can this soup?
No – this is a low-acid soup and must be pressure canned.
❓ Can I add meat to this recipe?
Yes – but it must be pressure canned. Add cooked meat before processing.
❓ How long does canned cabbage soup last?
Properly sealed jars last up to 18 months in a cool, dark place.
❓ Can I freeze this soup instead of canning?
Yes – it freezes beautifully for up to 6 months.
❓ Can I add beans to this soup?
Yes – add cooked beans before canning, or add when reheating.
❓ Why is my cabbage soup bitter?
Some cabbages are more bitter than others. Add a pinch of sugar to balance.
❓ Can I use chicken broth instead of vegetable?
Yes – either works well.
❓ How do I make it spicier?
Add red pepper flakes or a chopped jalapeño.
❓ Can I add pasta or rice before canning?
No – pasta and rice can become mushy. Add them when reheating.
❓ What's the best cabbage to use?
Green cabbage is classic, but Savoy or Napa cabbage also work well.
📄 Printable Recipe Card
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║ CABBAGE SOUP ║
║ The Recipe Worth Canning – Diet Optional! ║
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YIELD: ~8 quarts | TIME: 1 hour + processing
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 large head cabbage, chopped
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 large carrots, diced
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cans (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Sauté onions, carrots, celery in olive oil until soft.
2. Add garlic, cook 1-2 minutes.
3. Add cabbage, cook until wilted.
4. Add tomatoes, broth, and seasonings.
5. Simmer 30-40 minutes.
6. Serve immediately or pressure can.
PRESSURE CANNING:
- Fill jars (1" headspace).
- Process pints 60 min at 10-11 PSI.
STORAGE: 18 months (cool, dark place).
"I love the cabbage soup diet soup recipe…just not the diet!" 🥬
© CanningRebels — Cabbage Soup | The Recipe Worth Canning – Diet Optional!
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