Detox Cabbage Soup

Well, I don’t know about you all, but I am fully holidayed out. Traveling, food, family and friends, pie, presents, food, crowds, cookies, stress, candies, parties, booze… all the fun we can handle, crammed into a couple of weeks and topped with a ladle of gravy. It’s no wonder, come New Year’s, we all resolve to get healthy when the last two weeks of the year are some of the most gluttonous. Enter this week’s recipe to the rescue! There’s not a lot to it, and that’s what makes it great. It’s all about the veggies and herbs, and the preparation alone will have you feeling a little better about your health. Detox cabbage soup has been around for decades as the go-to meal for “dieters”.  It’s the perfect thing to jumpstart your healthy lifestyle for the new year. Make a pot (or an Instant Pot!) this weekend and by Monday, you’ll be feeling more like your pre-holiday self again.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced or finely sliced
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 leeks, white & green parts chopped and thoroughly cleaned
• 2 carrots, cut into ½ inch pieces
• 1 T. dried thyme
• 1 t. parsley flakes
• 1 t. dried basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 T. nutritional yeast
• 1/2 t. paprika
• 1/4 t. cayenne pepper, (optional)
• 1 lb. green cabbage, roughly chopped
• 8 c. water, vegetable broth or bouillon
• 1-2 t. kosher salt*

In a large Dutch oven or an Instant Pot, heat the oil over medium heat, and add the onions, carrots, and celery with just a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft.

Next, add the leeks and garlic and sauté them for a couple minutes before adding the thyme, parsley, basil, paprika, cayenne, yeast, and bay leaf. Lastly, add the cabbage and your broth or water. *If you’re using broth or bouillon, taste for salt before adding 1- 2 teaspoons.

If using an instant pot, set it to Manual for 15 minutes and then do a quick release after it’s finished.

For a regular pot, bring it to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the cabbage is to your desired tenderness.

As with all soups (like this Skinny Cream of Asparagus Soup), it’ll be even better the next day… and the next day…