Sausage, Potato and Cabbage Soup (Print Version)

Hearty soup with savory sausage, creamy potatoes, and tender cabbage in flavorful broth. Perfect comfort food.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

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 & Broth

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

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
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

# How-To Steps:

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 onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add potatoes, 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. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot with sour cream or crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes richer the longer it sits, so leftovers are actually better than the first bowl.
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means less cleanup and more time to relax while it simmers.
  • The smoky sausage flavors the entire broth, so every spoonful feels satisfying and complete.
  • You can swap or add vegetables based on what you have, and it still turns out delicious.
02 -
  • Browning the sausage first is non-negotiable, the caramelized bits left in the pot become the foundation of the entire flavor.
  • If your cabbage tastes too strong or sulfuric, it's likely old, fresher cabbage will sweeten as it cooks and won't overpower the soup.
  • Don't cover the pot while simmering or the cabbage can turn musty, let the steam escape and the flavors concentrate naturally.
03 -
  • Taste the soup before serving and add a squeeze of lemon juice if it feels flat, the acidity will wake up all the flavors.
  • If you're meal prepping, store the sausage separately and add it when reheating so it doesn't get rubbery.
  • Use a potato masher to gently crush a few of the potato pieces right in the pot for a thicker, creamier texture without adding dairy.
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