Embrace napa cabbage: A lighter soup for sunny winters
This year, typical winter warming soups aren't quite hitting the mark. With the sun shining outside and everyone has already forgotten about the frost, we're not really in the mood for them. That's why I prepared a lighter soup with napa cabbage instead of a classic cabbage soup.
It's hard to say that napa cabbage is an unpopular vegetable. We use it often, but primarily for coleslaw. Those who enjoy Asian flavours also use it for kimchi, as it's the base of this healthy dish. However, we still forget that napa cabbage also works well in warm dishes.
Napa cabbage tastes great warm
Regarding warm dishes, napa cabbage remains in the shadow of its cousin, the extremely popular white cabbage. Unjustly so, because whether it's stewed, roasted, or boiled, it's also delicious and suits many dishes. It's suitable for stuffed cabbage rolls, stews, one-pot meals, and soups. This cabbage also contains quite a few nutrients. It has a lot of vitamins, including C, K, and B-group vitamins, which support the immune system. It's worth having in your diet, both slaws and warm dishes. You can never have too much with vegetables, especially at this time of year.
What makes a classic cabbage soup stand out
Classic cabbage soup is cooked with sauerkraut, but you can also prepare it with fresh cabbage. The broth should have a strong, meaty character. That's why raw and smoked ribs, as well as bacon, are recommended. Since this soup can cause bloating, it uses plenty of spices, such as caraway seeds, bay leaves, or marjoram. This makes it very aromatic and filling, giving it its unique flavour.
The soup will be lighter
Does the soup with napa cabbage pale in comparison to cabbage soup? Let's not hide it; the competition is tough, and comparisons are inevitable. It's primarily lighter and definitely won't lead to digestive issues. Napa cabbage is one of the few cabbages that shouldn't cause bloating. It contains mustard oil and amino acids that facilitate digestion and prevent excessive gas production. I cook the soup broth with chicken, which makes it much less fatty. Many vegetables make their mark, and the soup has a very pleasant taste.
Soup with napa cabbage
Ingredients:
- 1 napa cabbage,
- 1 onion,
- 1 garlic clove,
- 3 potatoes,
- 2 carrots,
- 3 tablespoons canned white beans,
- 2 litres chicken broth,
- salt and pepper to taste,
- tomato paste to taste,
- oregano to taste,
- dill or parsley for serving.
Preparation method:
- Prepare the vegetables: finely chop the cabbage, dice the potatoes, and slice the carrots and onion.
- In a pot, melt butter and sauté the onion and carrots. Add the potatoes and lightly douse with broth.
- Pour in the rest of the broth and cook the soup until the potatoes are soft.
- Add the cabbage and canned vegetables.
- Season the soup with spices and tomato paste. Boil it and simmer it for another 15 minutes on low heat.
- Serve with greens.
