Vegan Cabbage Soup

Name: Vegan Cabbage Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil (, (or water for oil-free)); 1 large white or yellow onion (, diced ); 2 large carrots (, diced ); ½ a medium green/white cabbage (, about 5 cups when chopped); 4 cloves garlic (, minced); 1 x 12 to 16 oz (340 to 453 g) pack vegan ground beef (, or 2 cups cooked green or brown lentils (not red)); 6 tablespoons tomato paste (, (tomato puree in the UK)); 5 cups (1200 mls) vegetable stock (, plus more to thin as needed); 1 large 796 ml / 28 oz can diced tomatoes (, (2 x 400 gram cans in the UK)); 1 tablespoon cane sugar; 2 tablespoons soy sauce (, or gluten-free Tamari ); 2 teaspoons ground paprika or smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 large bay leaf; 2 teaspoons sea salt (, plus more to taste (adjust as necessary if using table salt)); ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (, plus more to taste); ¾ cup (150 grams) long-grain white rice

Published: Jan 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 28, 2023 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 25 Comments

Ingredients

Here is exactly what you need to make this "beefy" and hearty vegan cabbage soup recipe, along with some ingredient notes and substitution ideas (see the recipe card for full and detailed ingredients & instructions):

And a few ingredient notes:

Cabbage - Green cabbage (or white cabbage as it's known in the UK) is best because it keeps its texture better than Savoy or Napa cabbage. You don’t need a full cabbage for this recipe. I suggest using the leftovers to make my Peanut Crunch Salad or Bubble & Squeak.
Veggies - This is the best clean-out-the-fridge soup. Load it up with the cabbage, onion, carrots, garlic, and diced tomatoes but also feel free to throw in anything else you have lurking in your veg drawer.
Vegan ground beef - Adds texture, meatiness, and loads of flavor. Beyond Beef, Impossible Ground Beef, Gardein Crumbles, or Yves Ground Round are all good in this recipe. As with my vegan hamburger helper recipe though you can use cooked green or brown lentils instead if you prefer. Don’t use red lentils as they won’t hold their texture and will just dissolve.
Rice - I like to use white rice but brown rice can be used instead. It will take a little longer to become tender though.
Dried herbs - I like to use oregano and thyme but you can use 2 teaspoons of dried mixed herbs, Italian seasoning, or herbes de Provence instead.
Soy sauce - My secret ingredient for rich, "meaty" depth. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if necessary.

I like to make my soups in a dutch oven, but you can also make this recipe in a slow cooker, or an Instant Pot.

How To Make Vegan Cabbage Roll Soup

This Vegan Cabbage Roll Soup recipe is ready in under an hour. Here's a quick rundown of how it's done. See the recipe card for the full and detailed version, and if you're a visual learner check out my recipe video:

Step 1 - In a large soup pot (mine is 6 quarts) saute the onions and carrots, then add in the cabbage, garlic, and vegan ground round. Cook together for a few minutes.

onions, carrots, cabbage and vegan ground round in a pan

Step 2 - Next, add everything else except the rice and bring to a boil.

all the ingredients for vegan cabbage soup in a pot

Step 3 - Pour in the rice, stir then reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Simmer until the rice is tender.

Step 4 - Thin out with more veggie stock or water as desired, taste and adjust the seasonings then serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

How do I make it in an Instant Pot?

If you want to make this recipe in an Instant Pot, I recommend sauteing the ingredients in the Instant Pot as per the recipe for maximum flavor, then add the stock and really scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any burnt-on residue. Then add everything else, put the lid on, seal the vent, and cook on manual (the pressure cook button on newer models), on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then relieve the remaining pressure by turning the vent. I like to cover it with a cloth in case of any spluttering. Stir and serve.

How do I make it in a slow cooker?

You can easily make this vegan cabbage soup in a slow cooker. If you have time I recommend sauteing the ingredients as per the recipe for maximum flavour then adding them along with everything else to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours, or until the rice is tender. All slow cookers tend to cook a bit differently so try to make it when you'll be around the first time, so you can keep an eye on it towards the end.

Recipe

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