I love cabbage rolls but I don't very much like to make them. A little labor intensive. But I would even sacrifice the hard work if the cabbage rolls would freeze nicely and provide me with a couple meals for the future but that doesn't happen.

Heating up a meal of previously frozen cabbage rolls makes a really mushy encore. The cabbage has a very high water content. When frozen, then defrosted, you're left with waterlogged, soggy cabbage. Most unappetizing.

I wondered what would happen if I de-constructed a cabbage roll. Made soup with all the cabbage roll ingredients. Would it taste like a cabbage roll? I tried it. I was pleasantly surprized I was reminded of Bammy's stuffed pepper soup. Same premise.

The ingredients I used:

1 small head of cabbage - shredded
1 onion - sliced
1/2 # ground pork
1 cup of rice
1 15 oz. can of tomatoes
1 box of chicken broth
2 tbs. Hungarian paprika
salt and pepper
carraway seeds

Method:

In a large soup pot, brown the onion and cabbage. Remove from the pot into a holding bowl. Brown ground pork in same pot. When pork is browned, add the onions and cabbage back into the pot. Add the liquids, spices, and rice and simmer until the rice is cooked. (if the soup gets too thick, thin it down by adding more chicken broth or water)

You can keep the soup on the lowest setting of your stove after it's done so it'll stay warm for latecomers.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream. It is very nutritious, tastes wonderful and freezes well in small individual containers for future meals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's some castteam shops that have delightful soup related items............


COMMANDPERFORMANCE
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86623055/vintage-5-qt-soup-tureen-4-pieces-made



STITCHPRINCESS
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81439432/cabbage-digital-copy-garden-produce



KOWGIRLKITSCH
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72692951/vintage-blue-green-and-white-ceramic

MARIAROSECOLLECTION
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69373063/bogo-in-stock-cabbage-fractal-fine-art

by Rita of sammysgrammy

Comments (7)

On January 5, 2012 at 8:39 AM , Sue Runyon said...

Putting the ingredients for this on my shopping list and buying them today!

 
On January 5, 2012 at 10:18 AM , Tricia said...

Sounds very yummy! I've wanted to try and make cabbage rolls (hunky hand-grenades) beings it is one of Pete's favorites, but the time involved is nearly impossible. I'll have to try this even though Pete is not a 'soup guy'. Thanks Rita!

 
On January 5, 2012 at 12:04 PM , Lorrie said...

Yum! THis is perfect for "soup weather"!

 
On January 5, 2012 at 2:22 PM , Zuda Gay Pease said...

Oooo, this looks yummy! I wish my DH would eat cabbage. sigh....

 
On January 5, 2012 at 2:51 PM , sue anderson said...

Rita - a soup after my own heart. I cannot wait to try it.

♥♥♥
Sue

 
On January 6, 2012 at 10:46 AM , Faith Caroline said...

This sounds soooooo good!

 
On January 7, 2012 at 1:09 PM , Vicki said...

Yum! Soup is such satisfying comfort food and this one sounds hearty and delicious.