Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice, rinsed
- 1 large head green cabbage (about 2-2.5 lbs), cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 6 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional, for balance)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh dill or parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Sour cream or plain yogurt, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add ground beef (or turkey) to the pot. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in smoked paprika, black pepper, and dried marjoram. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until aromatic.
- Add the rinsed uncooked rice, chopped cabbage, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth to the pot. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender and the rice is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in apple cider vinegar and brown sugar (if using). Taste and season with salt as needed.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley, and a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired, before serving.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, swap ground beef for lentils or mushrooms and use vegetable broth. This soup tastes even better the next day! It’s a great make-ahead meal. Adjust the tanginess with more or less apple cider vinegar to your preference. Serving with crusty bread is highly recommended for dipping.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg