Vegetable Beef Soup with Cabbage

Vegetable beef soup with cabbage is a low carb, keto-friendly, hearty meal loaded with beef and vegetables that will keep you warm and satisfied! And with only 2 net carbs, this is a soup you can’t pass up.

I love to eat soups and eat as much as I can because they are so rich and flavorful. I like that I can throw different combinations of vegetables and beef or chicken and can whip up a delicious satisfying soup. It is even more necessary and satisfying when the weather is cooler as it helps warm you up from inside.

Vegetable soup is not only deliciously satisfying, but they also provide a host of health benefits due to the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables. For instance, this soup contains 42% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C in just one serving!

It also helps with weight loss and portion control as it makes you feel full really fast and curbs overeating.

This recipe is made using the instant pot but you can use any regular pressure cooker. You can also use a slow cooker but it will take much longer.

To keep it low carb, I only used vegetables with a low carb count but still enough to provide rich and strong flavors.

Ingredients used for vegetable beef soup with cabbage

Stew beef chunks: These are beef chunks that are usually cut into cubes and become soft and chewy when cooked. But any tender beef cut will do as long as you cut it into chunks and remove the bones.

Vegetables: Red bell pepper, scallions, garlic, cabbage.

Tomato paste: Instead of using fresh tomatoes, the tomato paste lends a stronger, more concentrated flavor.

Spices: I use cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, thyme, salt, ground crayfish. Ground crayfish is popularly used to spice up soups and stews in West Africa and gives this a bit of an earthy, traditional flavor. You can leave it out or substitute with coconut aminos for a delicious, umami flavor.

Olive oil: This is used to brown the beef. Browning the beef is a necessary step because this gives the beef an incredible depth of flavor.

Meat stock/broth: You will need stock, broth or water or a combination of either. I used 2 cups of stock and 2 cups of water. You can use more or less of either but you might have to adjust the salt and spices for the right blend of flavors you desire.

How to make vegetable beef soup with cabbage

Prepare the vegetables by chopping the cabbage, scallions, garlic and bell pepper. For the scallions, separate the bulb from the leaves.

The leaves will be added at the final step. Cut the beef into chunks if not already cut. I like to cut it into bite-size so I can just scoop into my mouth when eating the soup!

Turn on the instant pot and switch to Saute mode. If you have one of the more popular instant pots like the Instant Pot DUO60, this is the button on the lower-left corner.

Add the olive oil, then add the beef. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper and stir the beef till it is browned. If you have a smaller instant pot, you might need to do this in batches.

Note: when using the saute function, the lid MUST be left open. The instant pot is quite deep so you don’t have to worry about spills or splashes.

If you are not using an instant pot, you can use a skillet to do this. You just have to brown the meat on high heat for a few minutes till it is browned.

Add the scallion bulb and garlic and stir till softened.

Add the bell pepper, tomato paste, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, thyme, and salt. Also add your stock, broth or water.

You might have to adjust the flavor depending on the liquid you add, but you will have the chance to do this later.

Press the manual mode on the Instant pot and set it to 45 minutes. It will take 10 minutes for the instant pot to come to pressure. Make sure the vent is set to sealing.

After the instant pot counts down 45 minutes, do a quick release. Basically use a wooden spoon to push the vent at the top from the sealing to the venting position.

Be careful so you don’t get burned! I like to keep a respectful distance when doing this.

Open the instant pot and check the flavor. If you want, add more salt and spices if you are not satisfied. Add the scallion leaves and cabbage and cover the instant pot for  5 to 10 more minutes.

It automatically switches to the warming function but still has enough heat to soften the cabbage. If you want it crunchier, leave it for only 5 minutes. Your vegetable beef soup with cabbage is ready to eat!

For a delicious hearty meal, you can pair this meal with the following side dishes:
Low Carb Spicy Coleslaw
Roasted Tumeric Cauliflower
Sauteed Green Beans & Mushrooms

Need more low carb soups? Try these:
Shirataki Chicken Noodle Soup
Keto Buffalo Chicken Soup
Italian Wedding Soup
Lamb Curry with Coconut Milk

Or check this collection of yummy, savory low carb soups to keep you warm and cozy!

Other Helpful Resources

How to use your instant pot
Soup Could Be the Secret To Slimming Down
Is Searing Meat Before Cooking Worth the Extra Effort?

Print Recipe

4.77 from 13 votes

Vegetable Beef Soup with Cabbage

Vegetable beef soup with cabbage is a low carb, keto-friendly, hearty meal loaded with beef and vegetables that will keep you warm and satisfied!

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time1 hr 5 mins

Total Time1 hr 25 mins

Course: Soups & Stews

Cuisine: African

Keyword: vegetable beef soup with cabbage

Servings: 6

Calories: 238kcal

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs stew beef
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups cabbage chopped
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 scallion
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp bouillon powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp ground crayfish, substitute with coconut aminos
• 1 tsp salt to taste
• pinch of black pepper for browning the meat
• pinch of salt for browning the meat
• 2 cups meat stock
• 2 cups water

Instructions

• Chop the cabbage, scallions, garlic and bell pepper.
• Separate the scallion bulb from the leaves.
• Cut the beef into chunks if not already cut.
• Turn on the instant pot and switch to Saute mode.
• Add the olive oil, then add the beef.
• Add a pinch of salt and black pepper and stir the beef till it is browned.
• Add the scallion bulb and garlic and stir till softened.
• Add the bell pepper, tomato paste, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, thyme, and salt.
• Pour in 2 cups of meat stock, and 2 cups of water.
• Press the manual mode on the Instant pot and set it to 45 minutes.
• After the instant pot counts down, do a quick release.
• Add more salt and spices if you desire.
• Add the scallion leaves and cabbage and cover the instant pot for 5 - 10 more minutes.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

This has 6 servings and 2 net carbs per serving.

• Brown the beef in batches if you have a smaller instant pot.
• Always leave the instant pot lid OFF when using the saute function.
• It will take 10 minutes for the instant pot to come to pressure when using the manual mode.
• Use a wooden spoon to switch the vent to the venting position for the quick release. Be careful not to get burned!
• If you want a slightly crunchier cabbage, only leave it for 5 minutes in the end.
• You can substitute the ground crayfish with  coconut aminos for umami flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Vegetable Beef Soup with Cabbage

Amount Per Serving

Calories 238 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 70mg23%

Sodium 181mg8%

Potassium 495mg14%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 25g50%

Vitamin A 765IU15%

Vitamin C 35.4mg43%

Calcium 35mg4%

Iron 2.6mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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