Heidi's Cabbage Soup

I like to assign people theme songs. Not ringtones, theme songs. Then when their name pops into my head or I see them, I start singing their song in my head.

Or out loud. There may be dance moves.

Someone who's now forever linked with macaroni and cheese got assigned “Hot n Cold” by Katy Perry. Because that’s what the whole relationship was. Every time it came on I would oh-so-lovingly serenade him with it...then he put two and two together and figured out why it was his song. It wasn’t a compliment.

It’s no longer his song. He no longer merits a song (ooh, burn). But not to worry, the weather has since been reassigned “Hot n Cold”. It was 80 something degrees out yesterday. It felt like summer. It was rather glorious. Today? It’s cloudy. And Southern California cold (translation: I put on a sweatshirt, but I still wore my Rainbows). It’s in the low 60s people.

And when the weather turns cold (stop laughing), what could be better than soup?

Answer: A Hot Toddy, but it is too early in the day for such a thing.

Which brings us back to soup. Cabbage soup. I’m sure I’ve already over shared enough today, but I have to share one more thing: I love cabbage. Seriously, I go nuts for it in all its many forms. Slaws, kimchi, sauerkraut, roasted, braised, sauteed...I love them all. So when I saw the recipe for Cabbage Soup in Super Natural Everyday, I knew I had to make it. It spoke to me.

Cabbage, potatoes and beans may be some of winters humblest ingredients, but in Heidi’s hands they manage to have star power. Even with a punch of curry powder, slivers of cabbage still manage to add their particular brand of nuttiness. Creamy potatoes and garbanzo beans add texture, heft, and protein. The soup is somehow hearty enough to fill you up, but light enough to not bog you down. (Or what I call the Phở effect).

This isn’t the Katy Perry of soups. Its not flashy. Its not whipped cream bras and fireworks. Its the song you listen to when you’re sad because it feels like a hug.

PS: In case you're curious, my theme song is "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel.

Cabbage Soup (printable)
Adapted from Super Natural Everyday

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
8 ounces (225 grams) potatoes, unpeeled, cut into tiny cubes
2 tablespoons Indian curry powder
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
5 cups (1.25 liters) vegetable broth or water
2 cups (10 ounces, 280 grams) cooked garbanzo beans or 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 head green cabbage (16 ounces, 450 grams), finely shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Squeeze lemon juice (optional)

Warm the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium high heat. Add the potatoes and a big pinch of salt. Cover and cook until the potatoes are starting to brown and are tender, 5-8 minutes. You’ll want to uncover and stir a few times while the potatoes are cooking. Add the curry powder, then the garlic and onion. Cook for another minute. Add the broth and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Stir in the cabbage. I know it looks like a lot, but it will wilt down. Cook for a few more minutes, until the cabbage is softened. Now check the seasonings. (This is hard to do if you’re congested because you were sick last week like I am.) Not enough salt (and acid) and the soup will taste boring. How much salt you need depends on how salty your broth is.

 

Comments

[Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella]

It's getting chilly here. I opened up a window this morning and felt cold for the first time in a while which was unusual. I love cabbage too and cabbage soup is a family favourite :)

[Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy]

I love that you assign songs to people - very Ally McBeal, and Only the Good Die Young is on my permanent playlist, I love that song :)
Looking forward to trying this out come winter here in Sydney :)

[Krista]

I could devour this right now, even though it is similarly "cold" in my neck of the woods. :-) Cabbage and garbanzo beans just seem so right together. :-) I think I associate people with colors. My sis-in-law will always be lime green, my man is Kelly green, my friend B is blue. How odd. Until your totally random post I never really thought of that. :-)

[DessertForTwo]

I love cabbage too! Surprinsingly, I haven't made this recipe yet. I make my beans from scratch, so that always hold me back. But soon, I must!

[Deanna]

Lorraine- I always feel a little weird telling people how much I love cabbage, but it seems everyone does.

Anna-Its a great song. I think it should be on everyone's play list.

Krista-I'm glad I'm not alone in assigning people things. I should assign foods but songs just work so well.

DessertForTwo- I always make my beans from scratch. When I make garbanzo beans I always make a full pound and freeze whatever I don't use in two cup portions. I used the last of my freezer supply to make the soup.

[Em (Wine and Butter)]

YUM!! I really really REALLY love cabbage too (I always have arguement with the woman who I buy hot dogs from, demanding more Saurkraut). This soup sounds delicious. I want some 'I love you and I'm hugging you' food too!!!

[Maureen]

Winter is coming down under and this would be perfect for a cold, gray day. :)

[kyleen]

Haha, this post reminds me of when my friends and I were belting out one-liners to the songs from High School Musical in the locker room today... Now I'm going to associate practice with High School Musical... Mhmm this looks delicious. I'm actually hoping that winter will hold out a while longer so that I'll have another chance to make hot chocolate and soup.

[Isabelle @ Crumb]

I can't say I purposely assign theme songs to people, but there are definitely a handful of special folks in my life who have "their" songs. Thankfully, none of those songs are by Katy Perry... I find her music irritatingly catchy. (In fact, I'll be humming Hot n' Cold all day now)
I'll probably be craving this soup all day, too, considering it's rainy and grey today... perfect weather for a big bowl of soup.

[Deanna]

Em- when I get a hot dog at Costco I'm always yelling at them for more sauerkraut. Great. Now I want a hot dog.

Kyleen- if it would just stay warm or cold I would be so happy. Its the switching back and forth that is driving me crazy.

Isabelle-sorry if I got it stuck in your head. I saw Spamalot on Sunday and one of the people kept singing one line of a song the whole drive back. I put on my ipod and focused on the Hunger Games but it was so annoying.

[Julie M.]

Girl, it's never to early for a hot toddy! This soup looks awesome. I could absolutely go for a bowl of it right about now.

[Deanna]

Julie-I think 10:30 in the morning might be a little early. Its not too early for a Bloody Mary though.

[Jennie (the gf-gf)]

"the pho effect" - love this! So true :-)

so this post triggered an ex-boyfriend food memory for me - my college boyfriend's mother was on the cabbage soup diet while we were dating, and had a crockpot full of cabbage soup at all times. it smelled AMAZING, but tasted AWFUL. it's taken me years to be able to eat cabbage soup again, and i have to tell myself it's chicken soup with cabbage in it!

[Em (Wine and Butter)]

Only 5 more days til we yell at hot dog vendors for more saurkraut together!!!!!

(okay technically more than that but 5 more days til I ARRIVE - captial letters!!!)

[Deanna]

Jennie- The pho effect. Its going to be a thing. That just sounds terrible. And I'm sorry it turned you off to cabbage soup. I knew people were going to associate it with the diet but it was so good I had to share.

Em-I am so excited! Like ridiculous levels of excited. Its almost embarrassing. ALMOST.

[Lung]

Holy cow, this is WELL DONE! Perfect! Um, I have been known to put the very hot pot into the fridge, where my bgeigst worry is melting the vinyl rack plastic! I PROMISE NOT TO DO THIS AGAIN!I very much like to let my soup sit in the pot together for a day so that the flavors really blend before freezing, but that is just me, often being lazy too!

[Harry]

How are you going with the menu planning and using up the items in your pntray and freezer? We are trying to do the same, we're doing well but I haven't noticed much of a change in the pntray or freezer. We'll keep chipping away though!