The Kettle & Fire Blog

Wholesome Cabbage Soup with Spicy Kimchi

Spicy, pungent kimchi is the secret ingredient in this wholesome cabbage soup recipe that’s loaded with flavor.

The combination of fresh garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil make it like a stir-fry comfort food in hearty soup form, and browning a little ground pork makes it a filling main meal. Whether you love cabbage or not, this underrated vegetable soup is likely to become a quick and easy go-to staple in your weekly meal plan.

This recipe is a solid option for anyone following the cabbage soup diet for weight loss, as the spice from the kimchi may also work to burn fat in your body. The addition of Kettle & Fire Chicken Bone Broth, which is slow-simmered for hours with organic vegetables and herbs, gives it an extra 10 grams of protein per serving. Our grass-fed Beef Bone Broth would also work well in this recipe. Throw it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, and it couldn’t get easier.

The kimchi you use can make a big difference in the final taste, as it can be made with a variety of herbs and spices. We like to add a little bit of the chili oil from the kimchi jar. If you can’t handle too much heat but still want all the kimchi flavor, you can opt for a milder version.

And to preserve all the live active cultures in the kimchi, it’s best to add it off heat after the rest of soup has cooked.

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Wholesome Cabbage Soup with Spicy Kimchi

The combination of fresh garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil make this healthy cabbage soup like a stir-fry comfort food (only in hearty soup form). Browning a little ground pork also makes it a filling main meal. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword gut healing soup, healthy cabbage soup, kimchi soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 311 kcal
Author Kettle & Fire

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • ½ pound ground pork
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 inches ginger minced
  • 4 cups shredded cabbage (1 large head)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 14 ounces spicy kimchi, juice and all
  • 4 cups Kettle & Fire Chicken Bone Broth
  • 2 scallions thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the ground pork and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.

  2. Add the cabbage. Then stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, and sesame oil. Add the bone broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, until the cabbage is completely soft, 15 to 20 minutes.

  3. Remove from the heat. Stir in the kimchi and kimchi juice. Serve and garnish with the scallions.

Recipe Notes

  • To preserve all the live active cultures in the kimchi, it's best to add it off heat, after the rest of soup has cooked.
  • Paleo | Whole30 | Dairy free 
Nutrition Facts
Wholesome Cabbage Soup with Spicy Kimchi
Amount Per Serving (528 g (18.6 oz))
Calories 311 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 50mg17%
Sodium 907mg39%
Potassium 372mg11%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 130IU3%
Vitamin C 29.6mg36%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.