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Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe

4.8 from 129 reviews

A healthy and flavorful cabbage soup diet recipe that supports detox and weight loss. This versatile soup features a nutritious blend of cabbage, vegetables, spices, and broth, and can be prepared using stovetop, Instant Pot, or slow cooker methods. It’s rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it an excellent low-calorie meal option.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped (or white onion)
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped (any color)
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup broccoli slaw (optional)
  • 1 green cabbage head, chopped (or purple cabbage, or a mix of green and purple cabbage)
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Liquids and Seasonings

  • 9 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth for a non-vegan version)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the base vegetables: Heat a large nonstick pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil, then sauté the chopped onion, bell peppers, and celery for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Add remaining ingredients except spinach, lemon, and salt: Stir in chopped tomatoes, broccoli slaw, chopped cabbage, broth, tomato paste, ground black pepper, and turmeric. Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Simmer the soup: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove the lid, then stir in baby spinach and lemon juice.
  4. Season to taste: Gradually add salt, adjusting carefully to your preference without over-salting. Serve hot.
  5. Alternate Instant Pot method: Using the sauté function, heat oil and cook onion, bell pepper, and celery for 5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, broccoli slaw, cabbage, broth, tomato paste, black pepper, and turmeric. Stir, seal the lid, and set Instant Pot to high pressure or soup function for 15 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for about 20 minutes. Open lid, stir in spinach and lemon juice, and season with salt cautiously.
  6. Alternate Slow Cooker method: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, then transfer mixture to slow cooker. Add tomatoes, broccoli slaw, cabbage, broth, tomato paste, black pepper, and turmeric. Cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Before serving, stir in spinach and lemon juice, then season with salt carefully.

Notes

  • Use low-sodium broth to control salt content and keep it heart-healthy.
  • Broccoli slaw is optional but adds extra texture and nutrients.
  • Adjust spices like turmeric and black pepper based on taste preferences.
  • Adding lemon juice at the end brightens the flavor and enhances the soup’s freshness.
  • This recipe is versatile: choose stovetop, Instant Pot, or slow cooker method depending on convenience.
  • For a non-vegan version, use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Keywords: cabbage soup diet, detox soup, low calorie soup, healthy soup recipe, weight loss soup, vegetable soup