No, I’m not going to suggest that you eat nothing but cabbage soup for the next week. I’m just sharing one way that I have been loving up my liver while I heal.
In my opinion, cabbage is a very underrated vegetable. Most people don’t know what a powerhouse of a food it really is. I’ve been eating it on the regular this winter to help with my healing process.
Did you catch my latest update on things I’ve learned from having a chronic illness? If you did, you know that I’m working on getting my liver back in shape so it can do it’s job of helping my body detoxify all of the crap that’s in our environment these days. And this soup is LOADED with all the liver healing foods.
I’m not big on doing hardcore cleansing. I find it best to be supporting the body’s natural detoxifications methods on a daily basis. I like to think of it as self-care for the liver, kidneys, and digestive tract. The body has intuitive wisdom on how to bring itself back to health. But because our environment is more polluted then ever, we just have to help it along a bit.
What makes is Detox Cabbage Soup so awesome:
Cabbage: is a sulfur-rich, cruciferous veggie that increases the production of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes, and stimulates the production of glutathione for liver cleansing, meaning that it helps your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled It also has diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it.
Celery: has been shown in research to improve liver function, which can increase your body’s own detox capacities long term. It also helps rebuild HCL (hydrochloric acid) in your gut, which is crucial for fully digesting your food and absorbing important nutrients. It is a mild diuretic for kidneys to help excrete toxins. It helps reduce inflammation in the body. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Garlic: is sulfur-rich like cabbage, making it awesome for supporting detox in the liver. It also has immune-boosting and antibacterial properties.
Ginger: stimulates digestive acids and secretions, helping the digestive tract do it’s job. It improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body. Proper digestion and regularity is crucial for detoxification.
Cilantro: contains an abundance os anti-oxidants, protecting the body against damage caused by free radicals. It supports efficient digestion, by helping to produce digestive enzymes that aid in the breakdown of foods. It has also been shown to bind to heavy metals, loosening them from tissue, and facilitating their elimination from the body.
This soup is super simple to to throw together. Just a few simple ingredients: cabbage, celery, chicken, broth, garlic, ginger, and salt. I add a bit of fresh cilantro for garnish. It’s ready in about 20 minutes. It makes 2-3 servings.
I’ve also made this soup with ground beef and ground turkey. Whatever you have on hand works great. Add a 6 minute egg. It’s delish. You can leave out the meat if you want. I just prefer to eat nutrient-dense foods, especially since I’m in heal mode over here.
And you don’t have to be struggling with chronic illness to reap the benefits of this soup. No matter who you are, your liver and your body need a bit of help detoxifying and working properly. I like to use food as my medicine whenever I can.
Big love! Here’s to happy livers.
Katja
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Detox Cabbage Soup
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 10min
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee (or any healthy fat of choice)
- 1/2 of a small cabbage, sliced thinly (about 4 cups packed)
- 3 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2-1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 and 1/2 cups of good quality broth (bone broth or veggie broth)
- 1 cup chopped or shredded leftover chicken (or any meat that you like)
- fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Melt fat of choice in a soup pot over medium high heat. Add cabbage, celery, and salt. Saute for 3-4 minutes, until veggie start to soften, stirring often. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
- Add broth and chicken to pot and simmer until veggies are cooked to your liking.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to 2 days.
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I completely agree that cabbage is so underrated, I wasn’t even all that crazy about it until about a year ago, now I’m all about any recipe that has it! Your soup looks so cozy and delicious, and I love the touch of ginger in there.
Yes! I’m adding cabbage to so many things now. It really is yummy!
Definitely need something like that after all the sweets I had over the holidays! I just love cabbage in every form.
HA! Me too!
It was awesome and in 24hrs I’m breathing and starting to feel better and bathroom better thanks a bunch going to make 10 days cause feel so awesome
I have a total ingredient crush on this dish. This is the simple food I love and you clearly get a bang for your buck with those liver-loving benefits! Happy healing to you xx
Thank you, Irena! 🙂
A friend’s father always used to eat cabbage soup, said it was really good for you. I’m excited to make this, will definitely give it a go. Thanks for the recipe.
Hope you love it!
I pinned this with enthusiasm! I love everything about this recipe!
Thanks, Megan!
Katja, my Dad made a similar soup that I still make today. We add several jalapeno chilis finely chopped and about a cup of lemon juice to a similar recipe. It is so delicious!
Ooooooooh, you version sounds delish. And spicy! Will have to try it.
I love cabbage and it’s so affordable! Thanks for the great recipe
Hope you love it!
I loooove cabbage! So good in soups!
Me, too!!
This soup sounds so lovely and would make for an amazing way to nourish yourself during a detox.
Thanks, Kelly!
This is such a pretty and healthful-looking soup!
Thanks, Becky!
I made this soup last winter right after we got back from a vacation and needed a detox/reset. I remember it was soooo yummy! Going to make it again this week before Thanksgiving 🙂
Yay! So glad you liked it! Hope you enjoy it again!
Can it be frozen
Yes it can. 🙂
I added leeks and onions to the veggie mix. Garnished with cilantro, avocado slices and a drizzle of olive oil.
Am I allowed to eat the whole pot?!?! 🙂
YUM! That sounds incredible. I love avo on anything!! 🙂
Love the recipe! Would love to have nutritional breakdown. Is that available?
Hi, there. I do not calculate macros. Bit if you want to know, you can use this free app —-> https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ Hope that helps. 🙂
Tried it tonight. Clean and delicious! LOVE cabbage.
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Hi Katja,
Just sat down to enjoy another batch of this amazing and satisfying soup.
Hard to imagine that it’s “good for you” since it’s so yummy !
I cannot count how many people I have turned onto this and many other recipes that you have so graciously shared with us. Chicken Pot Pie Soup comes to mind as well.
You are amazing and a huge blessing !
Thank you, and God bless you !
Wow! Thank you for the kind words. You just made my day. 🙂
Delicious cabbage soup recipe! I used Kitchen Basics Organic veggie broth and added a cup more of broth as I used 4 1/2 cups of cabbage. I also added five mushrooms sliced. I eliminated the garlic as a personal preference but added 1/2 tsp more of ginger.
It was delicious and nutrition packed! Keep the soup recipes coming!
LOVE this soup Katja Thank you !!
Do you know how many calories are in the recipe?
I do not calculate macros. You can use this free app if you would like to know —> https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ Hope that helps. 🙂
Thank you so much for this great soup. It actually works. I love it and am on my way out to buy more cabbage for another batch. Again a huge Thanky you from my liver!!!
So glad you like it! 🙂
Wow. Made this tonight but changed it up a little. Cooked the chicken in my air fryer to keep it healthy and added spinach, onion, broccoli, and carrots to it. Also only had low sodium chicken broth so we used it. Came out so good, the wife wants to have it once a week. Not quite the same recipe but it was absolutely delicious. Also went healthy on the seasoning so used my Goya Total Seasoning. The two of us finished the whole pot. Thank you for the recipe!
Sounds like your version is super tasty. Glad you liked it.
Years ago I used to eat this soup everyday and I felt so clean and energetic. In my variation, I used to add jalapeños, peas, green beans and chopped spinach. I am going to start making this again.
I made a big batch of this soup last night to last me through the week for lunches. It is absolutely delicious! Added in some extra ginger (used paste) and about 2tsp of pepper for a little extra flavor. Thank you for the recipe, Katja!
Yay! Glad you liked it. 🙂
I have also added yellow onion, daikon radish, and jalapeno.
YUM!! 🙂
i made cabbage soup yesterday….and put much too much garlic in it….any suggestionsa s to what i can do to get rid of the garlic after taste?….good thing I must stay away from people because of COVID, I would have to stay away from they any how…cabbage soup is one of my favorite soups to make and eat….but NOT with too much garlic
Hmmmm…. you could add more broth to tone it down. 🙂
Delish! Full of flavor and packed full of heathy goodness for my body. I savored every bite.
Yes! I love it. 🙂
Hi, I hear the regular cabbage is grown with a lot of pesticide. If this is true then we should opt for hydroponic or organic cabbage?
I choose organic produce whenever I can. I want to support farmer’s who are growing in ways that support the health of people and the Earth. Most conventional produce is loaded with pesticides.
Who doesn’t love Canbbage?! Always a staple item in German cooking 🙂
You can add a handful of whole barley to lower/balance blood sugars, this changes the cooking process slightly though. Also good for vegetarian/vegan eaters in lieu of chicken
Made it and it was so yummy!! Is it healthy to eat this daily? For dieting as well
I don’t usually eat anything daily. It’s good to mix things up. But this could definitely be part of your regular food rotation. I don’t really comment on dieting as weight loss is about so much more than eating a detox soup. I address food quality, stress, toxins, and hormones with my clients who want to lose weight. Toxins and hormones are a big part of why folks can’t lose weight in today’s world. Hope that helps.
How often can you eat this? Everyday? I’m going to make it this weekend, it looks super!
I’m not sure what you are asking. You could make it every week if you wanted. You could make it a couple times per week. I sometime make it and eat if for several days in a row.
I like using bok choy and/or napa cabbage with homemade stock. The green part of leeks and celery leaves adds more chlorophyll. Puree this soup with a stick blender for a special treat.
Thanks!
Made this for lunch today, super easy and delicious! I added some cayenne at the end for a little kick. Thanks!
THIS SOUP WAS BEYOND AMAZING. I ADDED SOME CHOPPED GREEN ONIONS AND SLICED UP ABOUT 6 BABY CARROTS. I SEASONED A SMALL CHICKEN BREAST WITH A BIT OF CINNAMON, CILANTRO, GARLIC AND RED PEPPER FLAKES — WRAPPED IT IN FOIL AND BAKED AT 350 FOR 30 MINUTES. CHOPPED THE CHICKEN AND ADDED THAT AND THE CHICKEN JUICE TO THE REST OF THE SOUP. DID NOT ADD ONE DROP OF SALR OR PEPPER. WE GOBBLED IT RIGHT UP! GREAT RECIPE — THANK YOU!!!
Made this today for lunch as I had everything on hand except the cilantro. Used Kettle & Fire mushroom chicken bone broth. This was excellent! I will be adding it to my weekly rotation. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂
Deeelicious! And so comforting. I doubled the recipe and froze several single serving portions. I freezes really well too. I’m trying to add more veggie variety. I hardly ever eat cabbage and thought I’d give this a try. So glad I did! Thank you!
Best soup ever. Both light and hearty.
I made a double batch yesterday. Followed recipe exactly except did add a little pepper. Delicious! Ate it last night “as is” and today added 25 calories by adding hoisin sauce and sriracha to my bowl….because sometimes I like a little spice but, the recipe is perfect the way it was written. Though I do wonder why no pepper in recipe?