Hearty Cabbage Mushroom Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped (2 cups)
• 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 3 cups (8 oz) mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small cabbage (1 pound), cut into large 1-inch chunks
• 1 cup carrots, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar, start with 1 teaspoon if using sharper vinegar)
• 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• White beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas (add with broth)
• Meat such as veggie meat, ground turkey, chicken, or beef (brown separately and add with broth)
• Diced potatoes or grains like wild rice or barley (to thicken and add texture)
• Red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper (for spiciness)

Instructions

1. 1

   Sauté Onions and Mushrooms: Heat olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the sliced mushrooms and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes. You can add more olive oil if necessary or cover the pot with a lid for a minute to allow the mushrooms to sweat and soften without adding excess oil.

2. 2

   Add Vegetables and Seasonings: To the pot, add the chopped garlic, cabbage chunks, sliced carrots, smoked paprika, dried or fresh thyme, bay leaf, Dijon mustard, tomato paste, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together thoroughly to evenly distribute the tomato paste and seasonings.

3. 3

   Simmer the Soup: Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to become tender.

4. 4

   Finish and Adjust Seasoning: Turn off the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley and sherry vinegar (or your preferred vinegar type, adding gradually to taste). Taste and adjust salt or acidity if needed. If the soup tastes bland, add more salt to enhance the flavors.