Sausage, Potato and Cabbage Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty soup with savory sausage, creamy potatoes, and tender cabbage in a flavorful broth. Comfort in a bowl!

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into rounds

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 small head green cabbage, cored and chopped
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 2 carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids and Broth

08 - 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 bay leaf

→ Optional Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Sour cream or crusty bread for serving

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add sausage slices and cook until lightly browned, approximately 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, smoked paprika, and dried thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add diced potatoes, chopped cabbage, and browned sausage back to the pot. Pour in broth and add bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until potatoes and cabbage are tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with sour cream or crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, so cleanup is fast and theres no juggling multiple pans while youre hungry.
  • The smoked sausage adds deep flavor without needing to build a complicated base or simmer for hours.
  • It reheats beautifully and tastes even richer the next day when the flavors have melded together overnight.
02 -
  • Browning the sausage first is not optional, that step creates the flavorful fond and rendered fat that makes the whole soup richer.
  • Dont cover the pot while simmering or the cabbage can turn bitter and the broth wont reduce enough to concentrate the flavors.
  • If your broth tastes flat at the end, a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar will wake it up immediately.
03 -
  • Slice the sausage on a slight diagonal for prettier rounds that have more surface area to brown and develop flavor.
  • If the soup tastes too salty after simmering, add a peeled, halved potato and let it cook for 10 minutes to absorb some of the excess salt, then remove it before serving.
  • A drizzle of good olive oil or a pat of butter stirred in at the end adds a silky richness that makes each bowl feel a little more special.
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